The Carolina Hurricanes proved their grit on Thursday night in Greensboro. They erased a massive four-goal hole to beat the Nashville Predators 6-5. This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement that the team refuses to fold under pressure. The comeback capped off a wild preseason that tested the roster and the coaching staff.
A Historic Turnaround in Greensboro
Carolina faced a mountain to climb early in the second period. Nashville held a 5-1 lead that looked insurmountable. The Predators had started with a fiery pace and an energetic crowd behind them. But the Hurricanes found a way to claw back into the game. Logan Stankoven scored the equalizer with less than two minutes left in the game. Then Felix Unger Sorum sealed the deal with a goal just 2.6 seconds before the final buzzer. That late surge turned a potential loss into a victory. The win showed the depth of the lineup when the stakes get high.
Pyotr Kochetkov was solid between the pipes during the comeback. He stopped 23 shots in his second exhibition start. His performance gave the team a steady hand in net while the offense found its rhythm. The momentum shifted completely after the first period. A lead that looked safe for Nashville vanished in the final minutes. The energy in the building changed from a Predators celebration to a Hurricanes roar.
Roster Moves and Veteran Rules
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour made it clear that everyone who hadn’t played yet would get their chance. This meant big names like Sebastian Aho, Jordan Martinook, and Jaccob Slavin were set to skate. The new league rules require teams to dress at least eight veterans for any exhibition game. Under the new exhibition game rules, a veteran can include a player with 100 career NHL games, 400 or more combined NHL/AHL games, a forward or defenseman who played 30 NHL games the previous season, a goaltender who meets specific NHL appearance thresholds, a first-round pick from the last five years, or a second-round pick from one of the previous three drafts. This rule forced the coaching staff to mix experience with youth.
What Lies Ahead for the Blue Line
The defense is still a work in progress as the roster takes shape. Alexander Nikishin remains unsigned, leaving at least two spots open on the blue line. With Pierre-Olivier Joseph now on waivers and Joel Nystrom in Chicago, the race is down to a few key players. Mike Reilly and Juuso Valimaki are the veterans competing for those final spots. The team needs reliable defensemen who can handle the speed of the regular season. The preseason games showed who can step up when the pressure is on.
The next stop is Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Saturday. The Hurricanes will face the same Predators team they just beat, but the stakes are different. It is the final preseason tune-up before the real season starts. The team has learned a lot about its depth and its resilience. They will need that same energy when the regular season tips off. One thing is clear: this group knows how to finish strong. They are building toward a 2026-27 regular season, and the first chapter looks promising.
