Published: 23:12 EST, 21 December 2017 | Updated: 23:12 EST, 21 December 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Noah Hanifin had a goal and two assists to lead an early outburst that carried the Carolina Hurricanes past the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Thursday night.
Derek Ryan, Elias Lindholm and Victor Rask also scored for the Hurricanes, who have won four of five. Cam Ward made 28 saves.
Kevin Fiala had the goal for Nashville, which has lost two straight.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin (5) celebrates with Victor Rask (49), of Sweden, and Jeff Skinner, center, after Hanifin scored a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Carolina scored four times in the first 6½ minutes to chase Predators goalie Pekka Rinne.
Ryan got the opening goal 37 seconds into the game on a power play. Just seven seconds after Nashville's Nick Bonino was sent to the penalty box for hooking, Ryan was able to tip Hanifin's shot from the left circle low to the far side of Rinne.
Lindholm doubled the lead at 3:11 with a deflection of Jeff Skinner's wrist shot from above the right circle. Skinner had two assists.
Hanifin made it 3-0 at 4:47 when his slap shot from above the left circle deflected off the skate of Nashville defenseman Roman Josi and by Rinne.
Rinne's night ended at 6:29 when Rask's seemingly harmless backhand from the right boards took a bad hop in front and then squeezed between Rinne's right leg pad and blocker. Rinne, who stopped just two of six shots, was replaced by Juuse Saros.
Saros turned away all 26 shots he faced.
Fiala got Nashville on the scoreboard at 15:33 of the first when P.K. Subban's slap shot from above the right circle deflected off him in front and by Ward.
Fiala extended his career-high point streak to nine games.
NOTES: The Predators have lost consecutive home games in regulation for the first time this season. … Nashville RW Craig Smith missed his first game of the season with a lower-body injury. … Hurricanes D Justin Faulk got his 200th career point. … Carolina is 13-3-2 when scoring first.
UP NEXT
Hurricanes: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
Predators: At the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
___
More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey
Carolina Hurricanes center Elias Lindholm (28), of Sweden, celebrates with left wing Jeff Skinner after Lindholm scored a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, is replaced by Juuse Saros (74), of Finland, after Rinne gave up four goals against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Carolina Hurricanes center Victor Rask (49), of Sweden, leads teammates past Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, after Rask scored the team's fourth goal of the first period during an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin (5) passes the puck past Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14), of Sweden, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators defenseman Matt Irwin (52) clears the puck away from Carolina Hurricanes center Marcus Kruger (16), of Sweden, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9), of Sweden, gets tangled with Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators left wing Viktor Arvidsson (33), of Sweden, gets out of the way of a shot against Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros (74), of Finland, blocks a shot by Carolina Hurricanes center Victor Rask (49), of Sweden, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The Hurricanes won 4-1. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
[contf] [contfnew] 
Daily Mail
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
The post Hanifin and Hurricanes start fast in 4-1 win over… appeared first on News Wire Now.
