AP photo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Some rapid-fire scoring staked the Hurricanes to an early lead at the Sommet Center, but the Nashville Predators didn't get floored by Carolina's big early punch.
Barely three minutes into the game, the Canes led 2-0 on goals by Brandon Sutter and Ryan Bayda. Eric Staal added a power-play goal early in the second period for a 3-0 lead, and the Hurricanes held on for a 4-2 win.
The Preds' Vernon Fiddler scored as the third period got underway, and Staal added an empty-netter as the game ended.
Sutter scored by redirecting a blast from the right circle by Anton Babchuk at 2:05, and Bayda added a short-handed goal 54 seconds later. Bayda's score came after Carolina's Trevor Gillies went to the box on an interference penalty, with the forward wheeling past Ryan Suter and going five-hole on Preds goalie Dan Ellis. ...
Cam Ward started in goal for the Canes and was relieved by Michael Leighton with 11:39 left in the second period. Ward allowed Joel Ward's goal at 7:19 of the second and had 12 saves.
Ward was sharp in net in the first period, denying the Preds on a two-on-one rush and moments later snaring a nasty shot by J.P. Dumont. After his starts against Washington and Philadelphia, it was just what Ward and the Canes probably needed. ...
Staal's second-period goal was a right-place, right-time kind of score. Babchuk's hard shot was wide of the net but the puck hit caromed off the boatds and all but bounced on Staal's stick at the post.
The Canes sent out Staal, Sergei Samsonov, Matt Cullen, Joni Pitkanen and Dennis Seidenberg on their first power play. The first penalty kill unit had Chad LaRose, Brandon Sutter, Seidenberg and Tim Gleason. ...
The Canes have their top draft pick, Zach Boychuk, along for the trip. Team management clearly is intriqued with the potential of the young forward and has yet to make a decision on him. Odds are, he'll go back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. But when? ...
No Scott Walker, Wade Brookbank or Tim Conboy on the trip. But Gillies is in Nashville for the Canes. Enough said?
Soon after Bayda's goal made it 2-0, Gillies and the Preds' Josh Gratton squared off. Gillies appeared to get the best of it. ...
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
6 forwards, 2 spots
Thu, 10/02/2008 - 23:01 — Anonymous (not verified)Assuming the Canes keep 13 healthy forwards to start the season on October 10th, there are 2 spots left for 6 guys. Sutter was almost handed a spot before he even showed up for camp, hasn't looked stellar, but may have sealed the deal with his goal tonight. Gillies will head to Albany given Brookbank's 1-way deal. So that likely leaves Boychuk, LaCouture, Jensen, & Helminen fighting it out for the last spot. Who gets it???
I think LaCouture is on a
Fri, 10/03/2008 - 12:04 — Anonymous (not verified)I think LaCouture is on a tryout contract so we'd need to sign him before we send him down.
tonights game
Thu, 10/02/2008 - 21:56 — TylerA (not verified)Im pressed with Babchuk tonight, I think he'll end up better than most think.
Thanks!
Thu, 10/02/2008 - 20:40 — Anonymous (not verified)Thanks for the dirt Chip! Keep it up!