The Predators were unable t hold a lead in their series with the Carolina Hurricanes.
In Nashville, on Thursday night, the Preds were eliminated form the postseason in a 4-3 loss to the Canes in overtime.
A 3-1 lea in regulation, just was not enough.
Dougie Hamilton scored in the third period to get the Canes even and force extra time.
“I saw their guys were tired,” Hamilton said. “They had been out there for a while, and I told [my teammates] ‘Let’s run [the play].’ It worked out perfectly. We couldn’t have done it any better. It was a huge goal for us. Happy it worked out.”
Sebastian Aho‘s second goal of the game came with 63 seconds gone in the extra session to give Carolina a 4-2 series win.
“I don’t think we played, especially in the first two periods, and obviously Nashville, they were good, but I don’t think we were quite there,” Aho said. “The third period was an unbelievable effort through the lineup, and obviously [overtime] as well. It just shows that there’s no quit in this team. We have that confidence that we’re still in the game, even though we were down going into the third.”
Alex Nedeljkovic made 24 saves to get the win after shutting down the Nashville threat.
“It’s been like that all year,” Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We’re playing games that aren’t great, we look like we’re probably out of it and then they just get it together. You’ve got a special group here. I mean, I know every coach would say that about their team, but we’re proving it over and over and over. That’s special.”
Mikael Granlund had a goal and two points for the Preds.
“I really think we gave ourselves a chance to win a hockey game again,” Granlund said. “It wasn’t enough tonight and congratulations for Carolina. I’m really proud of the guys. The way we came back from the start of the season and this series, we really gave ourselves a chance to come through. But that’s a really good hockey team and congratulations to them.”
Nick Cousins and Ryan Johansen scored for Nashville.
Brock McGinn also scored for the Canes.
Juuse Saros made 27 saves in the loss.
“They turned it up, for sure,” Johansen said. “But I think it was probably a little more on us and how we sat back and didn’t have enough poise and continue to make plays and have the pace we were having there in the second period, especially. That’s what we wanted to get back to in overtime, and obviously they scored early. They’re a great hockey team, they did some good things in the third to tie it up and win it in OT.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.