Thoughts From My Couch: Carolina Hurricanes v. Nashville Predators, Round 1, Game 5

The series is back in Raleigh for Game 5 with the series knotted at two games apiece. The Canes lost both games in Nashville in 2 OT after winning the first two at home. They've been without Jaccob Slavin for the past three games, but that looks like it's changing tonight as Slavin is set to draw back into the lineup for this fifth game. The team is going to need strong performances from its stars, namely Andrei Svechnikov and Dougie Hamilton after both have underperformed in the last several games. To add to the woes, the stars of the Predators are heating up after not putting up huge regular season numbers. Juuse Saros has been the biggest thorn in the Canes' sides in the last two games and is a major reason why Nashville is even in the series. Alex Nedeljkovic is starting yet again after playing well enough to keep the Canes in the game for both losses. With the crowd back in the Canes' favor, tonight is bound to be a barn-burner. This game is essentially a must-win with the series going back to Nashville on Thursday night. 

1st Period: Predators 1, Hurricanes 1

These teams really liked being tied after periods, don't they? I thought Carolina played really well for the first few minutes, but Nashville looked a little sharper for most of the period. It allowed them to draw the first penalty of the game after Filip Forsberg had a great chance and then took a cross-check from Dougie Hamilton. Carolina would kill it, but they couldn't prevent Nashville from scoring the first goal of the game, again. A point shot from Roman Josi deflected off the glove of Steven Lorentz and then again off Yakov Trenin before beating Ned, who didn't see it at all as it floated past him. It had the same feel as Sebastian Aho's first goal in Game 2. I lost it until it was in the back of the net. The Cane got some of the momentum back when Andrei Svechnikov got into a skirmish with Luke Kunin that featured Matt Benning as well. Since Svech went 2-on-1, the Canes were given a man advantage for their troubles. The new-look power play looked good with Teravainen and Necas joining the top unit and they capitalized on the chance with Necas snapping a shot past Saros to even the game up after a feed from Hamilton. It is so nice to have Jaccob Slavin back on the ice playing. He laid a heavy hit on Luke Kunin early on and his defense is always on point. There wasn't anything noticeably wrong with the period. The goal allowed was a fluky goal that can't really be placed on anyone in particular. The power play delivered the only special teams marker of the period. Now they just need to start scoring more on Juuse Saros. As they have been doing, the Canes outshot the Preds in the first period, but things start to even out as the game continues on. Carolina needs to step on the gas and finish the second period with a multi-goal lead.

2nd Period: Predators 2, Hurricanes 1

It doesn't matter what else happened in that period because all we're going to be talking about is the potential tying goal being waved off due to goalie interference. I'll start by saying very bluntly that this should've been a goal. That's not me saying that as a Canes fan, that's me saying it as a hockey fan. Obviously, I want the Canes to win, but this was just bad in my opinion. Jaccob Slavin throws a low shot towards the net and it deflects in off the skate of Jordan Staal and into the net. Nashville decides to challenge the goal for goalie interference. Warren Foegele definitely gets to the net first and there is some contact with Juuse Saros, but there is nothing there that would indicate to me that he prevents Saros from playing his position. If anything, Roman Josi is much more of a presence and in the crease making contact with Saros before the puck goes in. But alas, the league decides it's not a goal and the Canes weren't able to tie it up before the period ends. Now, Nashville heads into the third with a one-goal lead and the Canes just can't seem to figure out how to beat Saros. Yakov Trenin scored less than one minute into the period on a 2-on-1 that came about after a bad decision by Brett Pesce to drop the puck off to an empty point leading to the breakout and the goal. The Canes failed to convert on a penalty. Yet it will all be lost because of, what I think was, a bad decision to overturn the tying goal and that's the league's fault.

3rd Period: Predators 2, Hurricanes 2

Now is a good time to mention that Martin Necas is going to be exempt from the expansion draft this offseason since he hasn't played in the league long enough. It was deja vu watching him wrap that puck around and into the net. He did it earlier in the year against Columbus, but this one matters just a little bit more than that one. Necas tying the game up helped to ensure this series goes to overtime for the third time. Nashville won both of the OT games in Nashville, but Carolina did a great job of taking the momentum back at the end of the period. There were a lot of missed calls or just plays the refs didn't want to call so that happened too. I can't help but feel the game should be over, but that's neither here nor there. It can't be stressed how important it is to win this game. Going to Nashville up 3-2 is a lot better than down 3-2 for obvious reasons, but winning this game at least ensures the series comes back to Raleigh if something bad were to happen Thursday in Nashville. Wouldn't it be something if Necas completes the hat trick in OT?

Overtime: Predators 2, Hurricanes 3

What a finish to this game. The captain bats it out of mid-air and into the back of the net with a little help from Roman Josi, which I admit is a little ironic. Just when I thought the Canes were doomed after Brady Skjei took a holding penalty early, Sebastian Aho draws a penalty to even it up at 4-on-4. It didn't take long for Jordan Staal to end it and the Canes are heading to Nashville with momentum, the series lead, and home-ice still firmly in their favor if seven games are required.

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Jordan Staal- GWG in OT

It was a potential goal from Staal that was taken off the board in the second period by the "goalie interference", so it's only fitting he puts the winner in the back of the net. He batted the puck out of mid-air as if he were up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning. All it took was a weak grounder, but it squeaked through Saros and into the net for the series lead. The captain stepped up in a big way and ensured his team hits the road with the series lead.

Second Star- Jaccob Slavin- 1 A, 25:48 TOI in return

Having Slavin back in the lineup is huge for the team. It allows Skjei and Pesce to breathe a little bit more and instantly makes the team way better on the backend. He led the team in TOI for the game and added an assist on the game-tying Necas goal in the third period. He was a valuable penalty killer and laid a nice hit early in the game. All around, he was great in his first game since Game 1.

First Star- Martin Necas- 2 G (GTG w/ 7:05 remaining in the 3rd)

Scoring on the power play was important, but everyone is going to be talking about that wrap-around goal for several reasons. For starters, it was simply a beautiful goal. It was also an important goal given the situation. The Canes were down in the back half of the third period before Necas beats the entire Preds defense to tie the game. He's a superstar in the making and I look forward to seeing him flourish as these playoffs continue.

Final Thoughts

A 3-2 lead is much better than a 3-2 deficit, especially hitting the road and playing in a barn that is loud and that you just lost two OT games in last weekend. The Canes played like the more desperate team late in the third period and it paid off in overtime. The job isn't over though. There is still one more win needed to reset and bring on a new opponent. It takes four wins to finish a series and the Canes just earned their third win. The fans in Nashville are easily the biggest x-factor going into the next one in Nashville. The Canes still hold home-ice for a potential Game 7, but the team needs to finish this in Game 6. Don't risk the series coming back home. Enjoy this one for now because the series isn't over.