RALEIGH, N.C. – Bryan Allen scored his first goal of the season on a breakaway coming out of the penalty box, and the Carolina Hurricanes held on for a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
Nashville's Gabriel Bourque scored less than a minute later — at 2:16 of the third period — to cut Carolina's lead to 4-3 but the Predators couldn't tie it.
Eric Staal and Tim Brent scored power-plays goals in the second period, and Jamie McBain had Carolina's first goal earlier in the frame.
Craig Smith and Colin Wilson also scored for Nashville, which had its two-game winning streak snapped. The Predators, who won't play again until Saturday at Florida, lost in regulation for just the sixth time in regulation since Dec. 28.
Carolina outshot the Predators 33-29, keeping Nashville goalie Anders Lindback busy. Hurricanes counterpart Cam Ward returned to the lineup after missing three games because of injury. Ward made 26 saves to earn his first win against the Predators.
The Hurricanes broke a six-game losing streak to Nashville, including a 5-2 road defeat on Jan. 7 in which they gave up four power-play goals.
Carolina went 2 for 5 on the power play in this matchup, ending an eight-game stretch in which the Predators didn't allow a man-advantage goal.
NOTES: Staal had a goal and two assists to extend his point streak to nine games. ... Carolina broke a string of back-to-back shootout losses. ... Eight of Smith's 12 goals have been scored on the road. ... Bourque has points in three straight games, one goal and three assists.
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