He said it: Rod Brind’Amour on game four

The Hurricanes will look to take a 3-1 stranglehold on their first round series against the Nashville Predators with game four Sunday. The team will look to do it with the same lineup as Saturday, with Jaccob Slavin once again out and Alex Nedeljkovic in net.

Rod Brind’Amour spoke to the media about the lineup and more Sunday morning, here’s a full breakdown of everything he had to say:

On his passion for the organization and community has been heightened by being head coach: I don’t think so. I think I’ve been here a long time. Like I said when I took over the job, it’s my home. It means something, it’s a little more special to me than just a job. It hasn’t changed, I don’t think, because I talk to you guys every day, that it feels like it’s different. It’s always been that way.

On if Jaccob Slavin will play, his starting goalie and if there will be any other lineup changes: There’s no lineup changes, so that kind of answers all of it.

On the matchups and last change: I don’t really think it was much of a factor. When we’re rolling and playing well, it’s usually never a factor. Obviously I think it becomes more of a factor when we’re missing Jaccob Slavin. That’s a big deal. That’s where, at times, that matchup there, we don’t have anyone to replace that. So that can be an issue, but I thought our guys have hung in there well considering. But I don’t really think it’s much of a deal.

On Jaccob Slavin: We’re pretty clear on it. We know what’s going on. He’s just got to feel good. He’s got to feel like he can play, and he just doesn’t feel that way yet. The player has got to feel good about his game before he can get in there. Otherwise he’s not just going to be effective.

On Slavin hopefully playing: That’s why I was saying it was day to day, because I was hoping any day he’d say ‘Yeah, I have that feeling,’ and it just hasn’t happened.