RALEIGH, N.C. — Overtime again? Of course, overtime again.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators now are locked up in playoff series so intense and tight that 60 minutes no longer apparently are not enough to decide a winner.
This night, the Canes were the winners. Jordan Staal’s goal at 1:44 of the first overtime lifted Carolina to a 3-2 victory in Game 5 at pulsating PNC Arena.
After winning the first two games of the best-of-seven series at PNC Arena, the Canes went to Nashville and twice were beaten in grueling double-overtime games. They were eager to get back home in front of their crowd in Game 5, which was rumbling Tuesday, and now go back to Nashville for Game 6 on Thursday with a 3-2 lead and the chance to close it out.
Forward Martin Necas scored twice for the Canes. His first goal, on a first-period power play blast, tied the score 1-1. His second was much bigger: a quick wraparound score at 12:55 of the third for a 2-2 tie.
Early in overtime, Canes defenseman Brady Skjei was called for holding Mikael Granlund. But the Preds’ Alexandre Carrier then was called for interference on Sebastian Aho, and Staal scored on the four-on-four.
Forward Yakov Trenin, who scored five goals in the regular season, had two for the Predators. Trenin had the always important first goal of the game, tipping a Roman Josi shot, then scored in the opening minute of the second period.
The Preds took advantage of a Canes turnover -- defenseman Brett Pesce’s poor drop pass just inside the Nashville blue line -- and converted it into a two-on-one rush and Trenin’s score for the 2-1 lead.
Soon, things became interesting, and left Canes fans in foul mood.
Slavin got off a shot from the point, the puck hitting off Jordan Staal’s skate and into the net for an apparent 2-2 tie at 12:22 of the second period. PNC Arena erupted, but Preds coach John Hynes challenged the goal, claiming goaltender interference.
The ruling: no goal. Canes fans, having seen replays on the scoreboard, did not buy the official explanation that Canes forward Warren Foegele was in the crease and had bumped Josi into Saros.
The fans booed and chanted at the refs the remainder of the period, and booed them off the ice when the period ended.
Necas’ first score, his first of the playoffs, came after a melee in the Nashville zone after the Canes’ Andrei Svechnikov was boarded by Luke Kunin and the two squared off. Others joined before play was stopped -- the Canes left with a power play.
On Necas’ second score, the speedy winger carried the puck down the right wing, behind the net and beat Saros with the wrap as defenseman Matt Benning took a futile swipe at the puck.
