Predators top Hurricanes to end Kochetkov's unbeaten start

The Nashville Predators beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday. Pyotr Kochetkov came in unbeaten at 10-0-0. He left with his first loss of the season. Read more: Predators top Hurricanes to end Kochetkov's unbeaten start

Nick Perbix opened the scoring at 12:32 of the first period. He snapped a cross-ice feed from Filip Forsberg past Kochetkov for his first goal of the year. Roman Josi made it 2-0 just 3:29 into the second period, scoring off another Forsberg feed. It was Forsberg's second assist of the night.

Jackson Blake got one back for Carolina at 10:28 of the second, backhanding a loose rebound past Juuse Saros. Shayne Gostisbehere and Logan Stankoven had worked the puck free before that. Still, that was the last real push the Hurricanes made.

Adam Edstrom restored the two-goal cushion at 5:40 of the third, tipping a Josi shot from the point past Kochetkov. Brady Skjei and Jack Drury set up Ross Colton's empty-netter with 41 seconds left for the final margin.

Saros finished with 29 saves on 30 shots, a .967 save percentage, and the win. Kochetkov stopped 16 of 19 before Carolina pulled him for the extra attacker, a rough end to a four-game winning streak that leaves Carolina at 12-3-2 on the season.

Carolina out-shot Nashville 30-20 and still lost by three goals. Nashville won Tuesday's Predators Hurricanes game by finishing, not by volume. Saros made sure nothing from distance beat him twice.

Related: Predators host Hurricanes at Bridgestone Arena

Wright makes his Predators debut

Shane Wright played his first game for Nashville since arriving from Seattle on Sunday. He skated 14:32 on the second line with Forsberg and Nils Hoglander. Wright finished plus-2 with a blocked shot and went 7 of 13 on faceoffs. He still hasn't recorded a shot on goal since the trade.

Related: Predators trade for former No. 4 pick Shane Wright

Coach Andrew Brunette said Wright is still finding his footing. "I still believe he's a young player that probably needs a little bit more confidence," Brunette said.

Pekka Rinne was also in the building. He was honored before puck drop for his election to the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2026. He's reportedly the first player to spend his entire NHL career in Nashville and reach the Hall. That run included the franchise's only trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Nashville is 6-4-5 and has won two straight. The Predators play Thursday at Colorado, a tougher test than Tuesday's Predators Hurricanes game.