<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Luke Kunin scored twice and Juuse Saros made 21 saves as the Nashville Predators beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 on Saturday night to secure the Central Division’s fourth and final playoff berth.</p>
<p>Erik Haula also scored and Mikael Granlund had two assists for Nashville, which has won three of four. </p>
<p>Morgan Geekie scored and Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 saves for Carolina, which lost its first game in regulation since April 12. </p>
<p>With Carolina already having locked up the top spot in the Central, the Hurricanes and Predators will meet in the opening round of the playoffs.</p>
<p>Kunin scored the game’s first goal at 12:27 of the second period. From just inside the Carolina blue line, Granlund lifted a backhand pass to Kunin skating through the high slot. He continued in alone on Nedeljkovic and scored on a backhand on the stick side. </p>
<p>Kunin scored his second at 7:41 of the third with a wrist shot high to the glove side. </p>
<p>Geekie ended Saros’ shutout bid at 9:07 of the third with a wrist shot from close range. Late in the second, Saros denied Geekie’s shot from the slot at the end of a 3-on-1 Carolina rush. </p>
<p>Saros’ best save came with just under 6 minutes remaining in the first, when he denied Jordan Staal’s wrist shot from the low slot, going left to right and swatting away the shot with his blocker. </p>
<p>Haula secured the victory and playoff berth with an empty-net goal with 1:03 remaining in the third. </p>
<p>POINTS STREAK SNAPPED</p>
<p>Entering Saturday, the Hurricanes had earned at least one standings point in the last 13 games, going 9-0-4 over that span, equaling a franchise record. </p>
<p>SLAVIN OUT</p>
<p>Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin played 7:13 of the first period but did not return to the game after the first intermission. The team announced that he would not return due to a lower-body injury. </p>
<p>Entering Saturday. Slavin led all Carolina players in average ice time per game at 23:17. </p>
<p>HITTING 300</p>
<p>Predators defenseman Matt Benning played his 300th career game. </p>
<p>SAROS AGAIN</p>
<p>Saros started his 13th consecutive game in goal for the Predators. </p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>The teams conclude the regular season Monday night with a rematch at Bridgestone Arena.</p>
