NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Sebastian Aho scored twice and added an assist to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena. Jackson Blake gave Carolina a first-period lead, and Seth Jarvis extended it early in the third. After Filip Forsberg put Nashville on the board, Aho sealed the win with two late goals 2:28 apart. Andrei Svechnikov had two assists for the Hurricanes. Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov made 25 saves for Carolina, which improved to 22-11. Juuse Saros stopped 33 shots for the struggling Predators, who fell to 13-20. Carolina has won both meetings between the teams this season.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Sebastian Aho scored twice in a decisive third period and Pyotr Kochetkov made 25 saves as the Carolina Hurricanes methodically dispatched the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena. The Hurricanes, who entered as heavy favorites, validated their billing with a structured and relentless performance, improving to 22-11. Nashville, struggling to find consistency, fell to 13-20. A scoreless and tightly checked second period gave way to a Carolina onslaught in the final frame. Seth Jarvis broke the game open just past the midway point of the third, taking a feed from Aho and beating Juuse Saros with a slap shot for his 19th goal of the season at the 12:33 mark. The floodgates opened shortly after. Just over five minutes later, Aho collected a pass from Andrei Svechnikov and snapped a wrist shot past Saros to double the lead. The Finnish center struck again a mere 32 seconds after that, finishing another setup from Svechnikov and Jackson Blake to make it 3-0 and effectively seal the outcome. Nashville avoided the shutout when Filip Forsberg converted on a rush, firing a wrist shot past Kochetkov off assists from Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos with 5:54 remaining. Any fleeting momentum was extinguished when Aho completed his three-point night with an empty-net goal in the final minutes. Carolina set the tone early, controlling play and breaking through late in the first period. Rookie Jackson Blake opened the scoring with his ninth of the season, capitalizing on a persistent shift by the Hurricanes’ forecheck. He collected a loose puck in the slot and tucked a backhand past Saros at the 13-minute mark, with assists to Logan Stankoven and Alexander Nikishin. Saros was under siege for much of the night, making 33 saves on 36 shots faced and keeping the Predators within striking distance through two periods. His counterpart, Kochetkov, was steady when called upon, particularly during a scoreless second period where Nashville generated several of its better chances. The Predators failed to convert on two power-play opportunities, part of an 0-for-3 night for their struggling unit. The Hurricanes’ depth and discipline proved overwhelming. Along with Aho’s starring role, Svechnikov contributed two assists, Blake had a goal and an assist, and Jarvis added a goal. Carolina’s defensive structure limited Nashville’s high-danger chances and consistently forced turnovers, leading to sustained offensive zone time. The game featured a parade to the penalty box, with seven minor penalties called. Nashville’s Brady Skjei was whistled for hooking against Stankoven in the first period, while Carolina’s Jordan Martinook (tripping) and Sebastian Aho (high-sticking) also took first-half minors. The second period saw Nashville’s Steven Stamkos (high-sticking) and Ryan O’Reilly (tripping) penalized, along with Carolina’s Taylor Hall (holding). Nashville’s Nick Perbix was called for delay of game for shooting the puck over the glass in the third period. The victory extends Carolina’s strong recent form, having now won four of its last five games. The Hurricanes continue a road swing in Florida, facing the Panthers on Friday and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The Predators, who have lost two of three, look to regroup at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday before hosting the New York Rangers on Sunday. The result flipped the script from the teams’ previous meeting on Dec. 6, a 6-3 Carolina win on home ice. It also defied the pregame projection from National Statistical’s game simulator, which had predicted a 4-3 Nashville victory, though the Hurricanes’ win probability according to the same service’s ELO system was 65.5%. Carolina covered the -1.5 spread, and the total of five goals stayed under the over/under line of 5.5.

Preview: Surging Hurricanes Visit Struggling Predators NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Carolina Hurricanes, riding a wave of strong goaltending and sitting near the top of the NHL standings, visit the struggling Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night. The Hurricanes (21-11-0) enter with wins in seven of their last nine games, including a 3-2 shootout victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. A key to their success has been the stellar play of goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, who has won his last four starts, allowing just five total goals on 90 shots for a .944 save percentage in that span. He backstopped a 6-3 Carolina win when these teams met in Raleigh on Dec. 6. Carolina’s offense is paced by veterans like Jordan Staal and Taylor Hall, who contributed a goal and an assist, respectively, in the recent win over the Flyers. Conversely, the Predators (12-19-0) have lost eight of their last 11 and are coming off a 4-2 road loss in Colorado on Saturday. Forward Tyson Jost scored a goal in that contest and will be looked to for production. Nashville’s results have been inconsistent, mixing blowout wins, like a 7-2 victory over St. Louis, with heavy defeats. The Predators’ defense will face a significant challenge against a deep Carolina attack that scored six against them earlier this month. Nashville must find a way to solve Kochetkov, who posted a 23-save win against them in that matchup. Following this game, Carolina begins a tough Florida road swing, while Nashville prepares for a lengthy six-game homestand before embarking on a demanding six-game Western road trip to close out 2025. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.