In Raleigh, the Nashville Predators let an overtime power play opportunity slip away with an interference call, then they let the game slip away when Jordan Staal potted the game-winner at 2:03 for a 3-2 win to the Hurricanes.
The win gives Carolina a 3-2 series lead.
“I was fortunate enough, I easily could have whiffed on that one,” Staal said. “I think I got my shaft on it. I was just swinging at it and I got a good bounce.”
The two teams head back to Nashville for Game 6 on Thursday night.
“I think we got rewarded tonight,” Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We finally got a bounce, something that went our way that we really haven’t had this series. It’s that kind of goal you have to have every night.”
Alex Nedeljkovic made 23 saves in the Canes win.
“It’s such a tight series,” Nashville’s Roman Josi said. “There’s a lot of chances on both sides, and they just found a way to score in OT tonight. It’s a tough loss for us, but we’re still in the series and we have to go home and win one.”
Yakov Trenin scored twice for the Predators, who now need to win to force a Game 7.
“I thought it was a hard-fought battle,” Predators head coach John Hynes said. “Unfortunately, tonight we didn’t come out on the right end of the stick. But [I’m] proud of the way we played. We’re in a series, so it’s on to Game 6.”
Martin Necas struck for two goals in regulation for Carolina.
“We definitely have talent, and you’re going to get one of those Necas goals every seven or eight games,” Brind’Amour said. “The talent got us back in the game, basically a solo effort. It got us back to have a chance to win the game.”
Juuse Saros made 34 saves in the loss.
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