Andrei Svechnikov is quickly racking up points this season for the Carolina Hurricanes, continuing to display his vast hockey potential.
Svechnikov scored for the third consecutive game and assisted on Sebastian Aho’s goal Monday as the Canes, behind goalie James Reimer, topped the Nashville Predators 4-2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
“At crunch time, he doesn’t shy away,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said on his postgame media call. “He wants the puck. Obviously he was a difference maker tonight,”
Vincent Trocheck scored for the Canes (2-1-0), who rebounded from a 4-2 loss Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings. Trocheck’s third-period goal gave the Canes a 2-1 lead as the crafty center first forced a turnover, then scored on a shot that beat goalie Pekka Rinne to the blocker side.
“He’s a competitor,” Brind’Amour said. “You know he’s going to compete every night. He’s going to make some mistakes like everybody and it’s all generally trying to do too much. He’s making some good plays for us.”
Reimer, in his first start of the season, had a busy night, moving around the crease and stopping 31 of 33 shots to stymie the Predators (2-1-0), who beat the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first two games.
“He was great,” Brind’Amour said. “They had some good looks but he was just sharp.”
Filip Forsberg broke loose for a score in the second period, walking in alone, and Viktor Arvidsson scored quickly on a third-period power play after Warren Foegele was called for an offensive-zone penalty.
Svechnikov took a pass from Dougie Hamilton and blistered a wrister from the top of the left circle for a second-period power-play scores. The power forward had a goal and assist in Saturday’s loss, and an empty net goal in the 3-0 opening victory over Detroit.
“Every game is getting better,” Svechnikov said. “Even today I felt way better than the last game.”
Aho’s first goal of the season came on a well-executed two-on-one with Svechnikov. Rinne snuffed out a similar two-on-one by the two in the first period but Aho beat the Finnish goalie in the third.
Nino Niederreiter scored a late empty-net goal to seal the win for Carolina. Svecnhikov, Trocheck and Aho each had a goal and assist.
The Canes again played without captain Jordan Staal, who missed a second game and remained on the NHL COVID-19 protocol list. Brind’Amour said forward Teuvo Teravainen “tweaked something” during the game and he was not sure if he would be available Tuesday when the two teams complete the back-to-back.
“Other guys had to step up into roles they normally don’t do,” Brind’Amour said. “From that standpoint I think it was a gutsy win.”
