Canes’ Corner: Preds hold off late rally by Canes, win 2-1

But reality and common sense tell us not to expect too much, too fast. Hurricanes D Noah Hanifin made his National Hockey League debut Thursday night at 18 years and eight months old.

The Nashville Predators were happy with their first 20 minutes of the new season.

Poile’s assessment of his team and the league might not generate headlines, but it is absolutely spot on. However, the Predators concluded the regular season with six straight losses (0-4-2) before being eliminated in six games by Chicago in the first round of the playoffs.

ESPN.com hockey writer Scott Burnside has the Preds winning the Central Division.

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Scoring has always been a concern to the Predators but was much improved last season with the addition of rookie Phlip Forsberg (26g, 37a), Mike Ribero (15g, 47a), and James Neal (23g, 14a).

“The biggest challenge is (Nashville) is a good team and has a lot of momentum in this building”, Peters said Thursday. The surprise team could be the Avalanche jumping back up and being in the mix for the playoffs. (Mind you, not before Kostitsyn and Radulov were suspended by the team for one game in that series versus the Coyotes for, shall we say, burning the midnight oil).

“The discussion really starts and ends with Pekka Rinne, the world’s best goaltender, and assuming he’s healthy all year long, [he] is probably braced to have his strongest season as he’s ever had”, Stu Grimson with Fox Sports Tennessee. “I thought we were moving our feet. It was a very good year in a lot of respects”. Then they kicked off Peter Laviolette’s second season as coach by jumping all over the team he coached to the 2006 Stanley Cup, taking 11 of the first 13 shots. “This is a kid that works really hard, he worked hard previous year, came over, learned the game, and in his first opportunity tonight he’s able to score a big goal for us”.

This October, a couple other young Swedes are being counted on to help Nashville develop an offensive threat beyond the top two lines.

Nashville Predators right wing Craig Smith (15) is congratulated…

Rinne went 41-17-6 with a 2.18 goals-against average and four shutouts while finishing second in voting for the Vezina Trophy.

After the goal horn went off, Arvidsson celebrated the milestone goal with a Tiger Woods-style fist pump.

When you look to the heart of the Predators’ strengths you immediately think goaltending and defense. “To get a goal early on there was real important for us”. Hainsey was playing without his stick and Ward had no chance on the redirection. “We were on our heels early for whatever reason but (the Predators) did a good job”.

Of course, in this showcase year for the franchise, Poile would love to see the team leap forward.

“That’s the great thing about a new season”. It was an even second period and the score remained 2-0 Preds through two periods but a late assault from Carolina in the third was cause for scare in Music City. And what a moment it would be for a man who continues to work on ways to make it happen.