Canes fall to Predators

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Carolina Hurricanes hoped to get the second half of their season off to a winning start Thursday night.

But the first game of the second half was like so many in the first - some good moments, some bad, too many penalties and a loss after 60 minutes.

The Canes jumped to an early lead against the Nashville Predators with a boost from the newest member of the "Rat Pack," but the rest belonged to the home team as the Preds won 4-2 at the Sommet Center.

The Predators (26-15-3), rather quietly putting together a strong season, tied the score in the first period on a shorthanded goal by J.P. Dumont and then jumped in front on Patric Hornqvist's power-play score with 24.5 seconds left in the period off a fortunate bounce.

Steve Sullivan then scored with just 1:10 left in the second period, off a Hornqvist pass, to make it 3-1.

Hornqvist added a second goal in the third period, a 5-on-3 score, to finish off a big night after the Canes' Andrew Alberts was called for a five-minute major for hitting Sullivan from behind. Alberts also received a game misconduct.

"We took three tripping penalties, two hooking, a high stick and 5-minute major," Canes coach Paul Maurice said. "That's the difference in the game.

The Hurricanes' Tom Kostopoulos raced in for a shorthanded score with 7:57 to play in third, but there would be no comeback.

"With six NHL players out of your lineup, there is a thin margin for error," Maurice said. "As I say that, I thought the six guys in our lineup who started [the season] in the American League played pretty good."

The Hurricanes (11-24-7) played without forward Eric Staal and with six former members of the Albany Rivers Rats of the AHL in their lineup because of injuries. Staal has been granted a leave of absence to return to Thunder Bay, Ont., after the death of his sister-in-law.

With Staal out, the Hurricanes hastily called up forward Jerome Samson, who flew to Nashville on Thursday afternoon and made his NHL debut. On the first shift of his first NHL game, Samson put a shot on goal that Rod Brind'Amour put back for the 1-0 lead.

Just like that, Samson had his first NHL point and Brind'Amour had his first goal in 35 games, ending the longest drought of his 21-year career. The Canes, looking for their third straight road win, had a 1-0 lead and seemingly plenty of energy.

"I was kind of nervous before the game," Samson said. "It was my first game, my first chance."

But then came a slew of penalties - against both teams. And it ended poorly for the Canes.

"We had the momentum, then it was like the penalties took over a lot of the game," Kostopoulos said.

Samson drew a hooking call, his first NHL penalty. But the Predators, the NHL's least penalized team, were called for a double minor on a Hornqvist high-sticking call, then a cross-checking call on Ryan Suter.

The Canes had a 4-on-3 advantage and called a timeout to set up their offense. But Matt Cullen was called for hooking 24 seconds later, negating what would have been a 5-on-3 advantage after the Samson penalty ended.

Dumont scored, then Hornqvist after Shea Weber's shot from the slot sailed high and over goaltender Cam Ward. The puck caromed back in front of the goal, with Hornqvist slapping it in.

"That was a tough one," Kostopoulos said. "No one's fault. Just a tough bounce."

With Pekka Rinne strong in net, the Preds pushed on to another victory while the Canes have a 14th road loss.

Ward made his 10th straight start and may be in goal tonight when the Canes host the Colorado Avalanche at the RBC Center.

The Hurricanes had four days between games following a 2-1 road win Saturday over the New York Rangers. Forwards Zach Boychuk and Jiri Tlusty were called up from Albany for the Rangers game, reassigned to the Rats, then called up again this week.

But the Canes have had little luck in the Sommet Center. Carolina's last win in the arena was in December 2002.