For more than 50 minutes, it looked like the rough patch that the Carolina Hurricanes have largely avoided this season had caught up to them at the worst possible time. But Martin Necas was having none of it.
Necas’ goal with seven minutes remaining rescued the Hurricanes from the brink, and Jordan Staal’s marker 2:03 into overtime allowed the Hurricanes to escape with a 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators, returning the series to Music City on Thursday with a chance to clinch a spot in the second round awaiting.
All night, the Hurricanes struggled with any consistent offensive pressure.