| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Patience finally paid off for Nashville
Predators defenseman Bill Houlder.
The first short-handed goal of Houlder's 604-game, 14-year NHL
career was the game-winner as Nashville beat the Carolina
Hurricanes 2-1 Saturday night.
|  | | Hurricanes goalie Tyler Moss was able to stop this shot by David Legwand in the first period. |
"He's got a good shot, he's got good hockey sense," Nashville
coach Barry Trotz said. "He's a big part of our hockey team in
terms of leadership."
Houlder, whose career began with Washington in 1987-88, snapped
a 1-1 tie at 2:53 of the third period with his first goal of the
season. Scott Walker won a faceoff and slid the puck to Houlder,
who ripped a slap shot over Carolina goalie Tyler Moss' shoulder
from the top of the left circle.
Walker has assists in all four Predators games.
When Houlder was reminded that he had never scored a
short-handed goal before, he joked: "You guys (reporters) all grab
the stats books, huh? What took me so long? It's a long time
coming, I've tried."
The victory put Nashville two games over .500 (3-1-0) for the
first time in the franchise's three-year history. Carolina (1-1-2)
lost for the first time this season.
Cliff Ronning gave the Predators an early lead, connecting near
the left post off Randy Robitaille's pass from behind the goal line
at 6:32 of the opening period. Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun robbed
a wide-open Jeff O'Neill late in the period.
During a second-period power play, Vokoun again stopped O'Neill
with a stick save from point-blank range. Carolina failed to
connect on four straight power plays in the period, and went
0-for-6 overall.
Martin Gelinas tied it 1-1 at 18:23 of the second period with
his first goal of the year. He faked a slap shot from the left
circle, then put a wrist shot by Vokoun's left skate.
"It was not special tonight," Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice
said of his team's power play. "We were 0-for-5 in the second. We
were slow on our back end, slow moving the puck."
Vokoun got a huge hand from Houlder, who knocked a shot by Rod
Brind'Amour out of the air with his glove when Vokoun was down on
the ice.
"That was just a panic," Houlder said. "He was down, so I was
standing there . . . I was there (saying), `Oh my God, I hope it
hits me if it's going to hit anything.'"
Game notes
This year's Hurricanes are a collective 42 years younger
than last season's team, Carolina GM Jim Rutherford said. ... The
game was the fourth straight for the Western Conference Predators
against an Eastern Conference club. They play host to Los Angeles
on Tuesday night. ... Both teams were playing their second game in
two nights. Carolina seemed more tired, managing just one shot in
the game's first 13:27. ... ABC's Al Michaels and Dennis Miller
were in the stands. The Jacksonville Jaguars visit the Tennessee
Titans on Monday Night Football. Predators mascot Gnash mugged with
Miller during the first period.
| |
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Carolina Clubhouse
Nashville Clubhouse
RECAPS
Montreal 5
Chicago 4
Calgary 2
NY Islanders 0
Ottawa 4
Toronto 0
New Jersey 4
Anaheim 2
Pittsburgh 8
NY Rangers 6
Dallas 3
Washington 0
Nashville 2
Carolina 1
Colorado 3
Columbus 1
Phoenix 6
Philadelphia 3
Vancouver 4
Buffalo 0
San Jose 5
Boston 2
|
