Carolina Hurricanes at Nashville Predators: Preview, Lineups and Game Discussion

The Carolina Hurricanes will play the second game of a back-to-back Tuesday night in Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, facing off with the Predators after beating the Florida Panthers in overtime Monday night.

The Canes and Predators have played just once this year, a game the Hurricanes won 4-2 in the first week of the season. Carolina and Nashville were supposed to play the night after that Canes win, but instead Carolina had multiple players put on the COVID protocol list and the game was postponed.

Now the Hurricanes will take on the Predators for the second time this season coming off back-to-back wins over the Panthers, the first coming in a shootout and the second in overtime.

Puck drop will be at 8 p.m. EST Tuesday night.

Game Notes

• Carolina holds a slight 16-12-1-3 advantage of the Nashville Predators all time. That matchup has gone the Canes way in the past few years, as Carolina has won eight of its last nine against the Predators.
• Vincent Trocheck, Dougie Hamilton and Sebastian Aho have all registered double-digit points against Nashville in their careers. Aho and Trocheck both had two points in the meeting earlier this season.
• The Canes and Predators have some overlap at the lower levels this year, as the AHL’s Chicago Wolves are serving as the affiliate for both teams.
• The Canes will once again be without Teuvo Teravainen Tuesday, as he battles a concussion. Teravainen
• James Reimer will be in net for the Canes Tuesday. He’s done well in his career vs. Nashville, posting a 5-1-0 record against the Predators.

Projected Lineups

The Hurricanes’ lineup will be the same as it was in Monday’s win over the Panthers, apart from the change in net. James Reimer will get the nod between the pipes after Alex Nedeljkovic’s gem Monday night.

Here’s how Rod Brind’Amour’s squad should line up:

Nino Niederreiter - Sebastian Aho - Brock McGinn
Andrei Svechnikov - Vincent Trocheck - Jesper Fast
Warren Foegele - Jordan Staal - Martin Necas
Cedric Paquette - Steven Lorentz - Jordan Martinook

Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Haydn Fleury - Jake Bean

James Reimer
Alex Nedeljkovic

Injuries and Scratches: Jake Gardiner (upper body), Petr Mrazek (right thumb), Teuvo Teravainen (concussion)
Taxi Squad: Morgan Geekie, Dave Gust, Max McCormick, Joakim Ryan

Nashville is coming off back-to-back wins over Columbus at home, and has won four of its last five games.

It looks like it’ll be Juuse Saros in net for the Predators, who brings a 5-5-0 record and an even 3.00 GAA into the game.

Here’s how John Hynes’ squad is expected to hit the ice:

Filip Forsberg - Mikael Granlund - Eeli Tolvanen
Calle Jarnkrok - Matt Duchene - Rocco Grimaldi
Nick Cousins - Erik Haula - Viktor Arvidsson
Tanner Jeannot - Colton Sissons - Mathieu Olivier

Roman Josi - Dante Fabbro
Ben Harpur - Matt Benning
Mattias Ekholm - Alexandre Carrier

Juuse Saros
Pekka Rinne

Injuries and Scratches: Ryan Ellis (healthy), Ryan Johansen (upper body), Luke Kunin (lower body), Mark Borowiecki (upper body), Brad Richardson (upper body, IR)
Taxi Squad: Mathieu Olivier, Kasimir Kaskisuo, Michael McCarron, Alexandre Carrier