The Carolina Hurricanes again found themselves on the wrong end of double overtime heroics as they fell for the second straight game this time by the score of 4-3 to the Nashville Predators Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the series now sits at 2-2 and now shifts to a best of three series.
Things couldn’t have started any worse for Carolina as they fell into a hole early as Nashville scored in the first 57 seconds with a goal from Luke Kunin. The Hurricanes settled in, dominating the rest of the period before finally cashing in as Vincent Trocheck scored his second goal of the postseason – tying the contest at one all with just under two minutes left in the opening stanza. Both teams headed into the break with the score still tied at one.
Nashville again struck first in the second period with a goal from Ryan Johansen at the 4:53 mark. The score would be knotted again this time at 2-2 after Brock McGinn got in on the scoring action with a goal at the 18:05 point of the period, sending both teams into the intermission with another tied score.
McGinn gave the Hurricanes their first and only lead of the game with a strike just 13 seconds into the third period. Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal were both credited with assists on the goal. Nashville later found a hole in the once dominating Carolina penalty kill, as they tied the game yet again with a power play goal from Nick Cousins off a redirection out in front. Both teams had plenty of chances to go ahead, including Nashville in the final minute of regulation before Alex Nedeljkovic made an amazing save stretching across the crease to keep the game tied and send it to overtime.
Like Friday night, neither team could end the game in the first extra period. Carolina came out the obvious aggressors in the second overtime, but missed on a few chances to escape with the victory. Nashville then took advantage as Kunin found his way in front of the net, ending the game and tying the series at 2-2 heading back to Raleigh.
Next Up: Game 5 – Tuesday – 8 PM – PNC Arena- CNBC.