Nashville Predators vs. Carolina Hurricanes Preview
As the Nashville Predators look to capitalize on their recent momentum, they head into a challenging matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes after securing four wins in their last five outings. In a tight contest on Thursday, Nashville edged out the Florida Panthers 2-1 in overtime, marking their first win against them since the 2023-24 season. Steven Stamkos, who has enjoyed a resurgence with four goals in five games, sealed the victory with the decisive goal.
Game Details
- Teams: Nashville Predators (10-13-4, 8th in Central Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (16-8-2, 2nd in Metropolitan Division)
- Date/Time: Saturday, 6 p.m. CST
- Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network South; Radio: 102.5 The Game
- Betting Line: Predators +1.5, Hurricanes -1.5; Over/Under: 6 at -110
Strong Penalty Kill Performance
Nashville’s penalty-killing unit has been noteworthy this season, particularly highlighting their performance against the Panthers where they successfully killed all six penalties faced. This notable effort was celebrated by Stamkos, who awarded the team’s postgame recognition to the entire penalty-kill squad. Currently, Nashville ranks 10th in the NHL for penalty kill efficiency with 82.1%, successfully managing 69 of 84 penalties. Remarkable is the fact that they have reduced their overall penalties compared to previous seasons, currently placing 19th in the league with 232 penalty minutes, down from 10 fighting penalties at this stage last year.
O’Reilly’s Rising Impact
Ryan O’Reilly has been a consistent contributor for the Predators throughout the season. Recently, he has stepped up his game, collecting eight points in the last five appearances after going scoreless in the previous four. Leading the Predators with a total of 21 points, O’Reilly has shined with multi-point outings against the Red Wings, Blackhawks, and the Panthers, demonstrating his pivotal role in the lineup. Along with Stamkos’s recent offensive contributions, the Predators appear to be solidifying their attacking strategy, having scored four goals or more in three of their past five contests.
Predators vs. Hurricanes Historical Context
Historically, the Predators have fared well against the Hurricanes, having triumphed in five of their last six meetings in the regular season. Their previous encounter on March 26 showcased this trend, when Nashville claimed a 3-1 victory with two goals from Luke Evangelista and a milestone 200th career win for goaltender Juuse Saros.
On the flip side, the Hurricanes, while still ranked second in the Metropolitan Division with 34 points, have faced some recent struggles. They have lost three of their last five games, including a setback against the Toronto Maple Leafs, in which they fell 5-1 after yielding three consecutive goals following a close first period. Notably, Carolina’s Seth Jarvis currently shares a spot in the league’s top 10 for goals, netting 16 in just 26 games.
Injury Report
Predators Injuries:
- Justin Barron (lower body, IR)
- Ozzy Weisblatt (upper body, IR)
- Nick Perbix (upper body, day-to-day)
- Zach L’Heureux (lower body, IR)
- Cole Smith (upper body, IR)
Hurricanes Injuries:
- K’Andre Miller (illness, questionable)
- Jesperi Kotkaniemi (ankle, IR)
- Jaccob Slavin (lower body, IR)
- Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body, day-to-day)
- Charles-Alexis Legault (hand, IR)
As the Predators approach this critical matchup against the Hurricanes, the ongoing developments in their gameplay and lineup changes will be key in striving for a continued winning streak.
