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Streaking Predators visit Hurricanes

Nov 20, 2010 - 3:50 PM (Sports Network) - Hoping to put a recent five-game losing streak further behind them, the Nashville Predators aim for a fourth straight victory over the Carolina Hurricanes tonight as they visit the RBC Center.

The Predators have won three of their last four since suffering five straight regulation defeats from Oct. 28-Nov. 7. They began a four-game road trip with a loss in Toronto on Tuesday before bouncing back with Thursday's 3-0 victory in Montreal.

Pekka Rinne picked up his second shutout of the season and 16th of his career thanks to 30 saves, while Marcel Goc posted his first two-goal game in the NHL. Cal O'Reilly also scored and both Francis Bouillon and Kevin Klein finished with two assists.

"We managed everything out of each zone. They had a lot of shots but we kept their second and third chances to a minimum," Goc said. "We trust in our goalie to make the first save, and he was great for us tonight. We made smart plays in our zone and we supported him better and took the puck out and moved it forward."

Goc, a former first-round pick of the Sharks in 2001, is now tied for the team lead with five goals. He has zero points in four career games versus the Hurricanes.

Forward David Legwand left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury, though head coach Barry Trotz said afterwards he didn't think it was anything major.

Nashville has won three straight over Carolina since its last loss to the club on Jan. 13, 2006 in Raleigh. The Preds posted a 5-2 road win over the Hurricanes in November of 2008 prior to last year's 4-2 home win on Jan. 7 that featured 25 saves from Rinne in his only career start against the franchise.

Cam Ward is likely to be in net for the Hurricanes tonight after getting a breather in last night's 5-4 shootout loss to the Penguins. Ward has lost all three of his career starts against the Predators and allowed all four goals on 34 shots in last year's loss to them.

Justin Peters got the call in net for Carolina Friday and made 32 saves through 65 minutes. However, he was beaten by both Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby in the shootout, while Hurricane skaters Jeff Skinner and Jussi Jokinen missed on their chances.

Jokinen matched a career high with four points off two goals and a pair of assists, giving him three straight multi-point games and two goals and six helpers in that span. His goal with less than a minute left in regulation forced overtime.

"There were good chances from both teams through overtime," Jokinen said. "They're a very good hockey club and they've been on a roll the last couple weeks. From here, it's not good to get another loss, but we still can get a big win [Saturday] and turn it around."

Carolina has lost three of its last four, but will play its next two games at home, where it has won four of its last five and is 5-3-0 this season.

Jokinen, whose first four-point game came on Nov. 16, 2007 while with Dallas, has a goal and seven points in 12 career games versus the Predators.