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Staal helps Hurricanes beat Predators

Sep 27, 2009 - 2:33 AM NASHVILLE, Tenn.(AP) -- Eric Staal had a power-play goal and an assist to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 in exhibition play Saturday night.

Jussi Jokinen, Ray Whitney, Scott Walker and Tim Conboy also scored for Carolina (2-2-0). J.P. Dumont and Patric Hornqvist scored for Nashville (3-2-0).

Jokinen scored at 1:13 of the first period, beating Pekka Rinne off a rebound. Dumont tied it with 5:41 to go in the period, deflecting a shot past Michael Leighton.

With 13 seconds left in the first, Whitney skated into the slot and beat Rinne to his right side. The Hurricanes opened a 3-1 lead in second period when Staal scored at 5:12 on the power play. He took a shot that bounced off the glass behind the net, then knocked the rebound out of the air and past Rinne.

Hornqvist pulled the Predators within a goal when he beat Leighton from close range off of a pass from Dumont, also on the power play.

Scott Walker added an insurance goal with 35 seconds left, and Conboy was credited with an empty-net goal that was actually scored by Nashville's Dan Hamhuis.

Nashville's Steve Sullivan participated in the morning skate Saturday, but did not play in the game. It was unclear if it was the result of the groin injury he sustained Sept. 19 against Columbus.