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  Saturday, Oct. 14 8:00pm ET
Vokoun makes late save in win
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Patience finally paid off for Nashville Predators defenseman Bill Houlder.

The first short-handed goal of Houlder's 604-game, 14-year NHL career was the game-winner as Nashville beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 Saturday night.

David Legwand
Hurricanes goalie Tyler Moss was able to stop this shot by David Legwand in the first period.

"He's got a good shot, he's got good hockey sense," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "He's a big part of our hockey team in terms of leadership."

Houlder, whose career began with Washington in 1987-88, snapped a 1-1 tie at 2:53 of the third period with his first goal of the season. Scott Walker won a faceoff and slid the puck to Houlder, who ripped a slap shot over Carolina goalie Tyler Moss' shoulder from the top of the left circle.

Walker has assists in all four Predators games.

When Houlder was reminded that he had never scored a short-handed goal before, he joked: "You guys (reporters) all grab the stats books, huh? What took me so long? It's a long time coming, I've tried."

The victory put Nashville two games over .500 (3-1-0) for the first time in the franchise's three-year history. Carolina (1-1-2) lost for the first time this season.

Cliff Ronning gave the Predators an early lead, connecting near the left post off Randy Robitaille's pass from behind the goal line at 6:32 of the opening period. Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun robbed a wide-open Jeff O'Neill late in the period.

During a second-period power play, Vokoun again stopped O'Neill with a stick save from point-blank range. Carolina failed to connect on four straight power plays in the period, and went 0-for-6 overall.

Martin Gelinas tied it 1-1 at 18:23 of the second period with his first goal of the year. He faked a slap shot from the left circle, then put a wrist shot by Vokoun's left skate.

"It was not special tonight," Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said of his team's power play. "We were 0-for-5 in the second. We were slow on our back end, slow moving the puck."

Vokoun got a huge hand from Houlder, who knocked a shot by Rod Brind'Amour out of the air with his glove when Vokoun was down on the ice.

"That was just a panic," Houlder said. "He was down, so I was standing there . . . I was there (saying), `Oh my God, I hope it hits me if it's going to hit anything.'"

Game notes
This year's Hurricanes are a collective 42 years younger than last season's team, Carolina GM Jim Rutherford said. ... The game was the fourth straight for the Western Conference Predators against an Eastern Conference club. They play host to Los Angeles on Tuesday night. ... Both teams were playing their second game in two nights. Carolina seemed more tired, managing just one shot in the game's first 13:27. ... ABC's Al Michaels and Dennis Miller were in the stands. The Jacksonville Jaguars visit the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. Predators mascot Gnash mugged with Miller during the first period.
 


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NHL Scoreboard

Carolina Clubhouse

Nashville Clubhouse


RECAPS
Montreal 5
Chicago 4

Calgary 2
NY Islanders 0

Ottawa 4
Toronto 0

New Jersey 4
Anaheim 2

Pittsburgh 8
NY Rangers 6

Dallas 3
Washington 0

Nashville 2
Carolina 1

Colorado 3
Columbus 1

Phoenix 6
Philadelphia 3

Vancouver 4
Buffalo 0

San Jose 5
Boston 2