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Following two double overtime wins for the Nashville Predators in games three and four, this first-round series is now a best of three. The Hurricanes will look to re-take the lead in the series with game five at PNC Arena, where they’re undefeated so far in these playoffs.
The Hurricanes are still in a good spot, needing to win two of three games to close out the series, with two of those games at home, but the Predators have certainly captured some momentum after their wins in Nashville.
Here’s a look at how these two teams match up tonight:
Vital Statistics
| Category | Hurricanes | Bruins |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Hurricanes | Bruins |
| Record | 54-20-8 | 51-26-5 |
| Goals/Game | 3.38 | 3.08 |
| Goals Against/Game | 2.44 | 2.66 |
| Shots/Game | 34.12 | 36.12 |
| Face Off Win % | 53.9% | 54.2% |
| Power Play % (Rank) | 22.0% (13th) | 21.2% (15th) |
| Penalty Kill % (Rank) | 88.0% (1st) | 81.3% (9th) |
| ES Corsi For % | 43.86% | 56.14% |
| ES PDO | 113.44 | 86.56 |
| PIM/Game | 12:00 | 22:00 |
Goaltender #1
| Category | Frederik Andersen | Linus Ullmark |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Frederik Andersen | Linus Ullmark |
| Record | 35-14-3 | 26-10-2 |
| Save % | .922 | .917 |
| GAA | 2.17 | 2.45 |
Goaltender #2
| Category | Antti Raanta | Jeremy Swayman |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Antti Raanta | Jeremy Swayman |
| Record | 15-5-4 | 23-14-3 |
| Save % | .912 | .914 |
| GAA | 2.45 | 2.41 |
Game Notes
- The Hurricanes need to get their power play going tonight, and in these playoffs. They went 1 for 7 up a man in Nashville, including an 0-for-4 mark in game four. A goal up a man could have made a difference and sent the Hurricanes back to Raleigh with a chance to close this thing out.
- It remains unknown if Jaccob Slavin will play in this game - he’s still day to day, and Rod Brind’Amour is waiting for him to say he’s good to go. We should know more about Slavin’s status following today’s 10:30 morning skate.
- Count Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce among those likely hoping the Hurricanes can get this one done in regulation. With both of the past two games going to double overtime, and sans Slavin, Pesce and Skjei have played 79:43 and 77:01, respectively over the pair of contests.
- The Hurricanes are 21-10 in home playoff games since 2006.
- We’ll also likely know the starting goalie for this one after the morning skate. Brind’Amour could opt to turn to Petr Mrazek after a pair of losses, but there’s certainly nothing to fault Alex Nedeljkovic for in either loss - he made 92 total saves in Nashville and has been excellent in the first four playoff games of his career.