Predators @ Hurricanes 4/15-4/17

[Harbingers]

"A two-game set against the Nashville Predators will bring an end to the Carolina Hurricanes' longest homestand of the season.

The Match-Up

Nashville Predators (24-19-1, 49 points) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (27-10-4, 58 points)

Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m.

Watch: Bally Sports South, FOX Sports GO

Listen: 99.9 FM The Fan, Hurricanes.com/Listen, Hurricanes app

Tracking the Storylines

Here's Jani: After being acquired from Anaheim at the trade deadline on Monday, defenseman Jani Hakanpaa is set to make his debut with the Canes. He skated with Jake Bean in practice on Wednesday, providing a steady, stay-at-home complement to Bean's more offensive-minded style of play.

"He's a big dude out there. He's got a long reach and a good stick. That physical presence, that's obvious," head coach Brind'Amour said. "That's something that every team wants to have, and it's something that's going to help us, for sure."

Down the Stretch: There's just under a month left to play in the regular season. After their last two-day gap in between games in this compact schedule, the Canes will play their final 15 games over a frantic 26-day stretch, a game every 1.73 days. The Canes have maintained their position in first place in the Central Division with a 27-10-4 record and 58 points.

The Opposition

Last five games: 4-1-0, 8 points
On the road: 11-10-1, 23 points
CAR vs. NSH: 4-0-0
Leading scorer: Filip Forsberg, 29 points (11g, 18a) in 34 games

The Predators are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, having won 13 of their last 16 games. In recording 26 points since March 15, second most in the league in that timeframe, the Predators have charged up the Central Division standings from seventh place and 10 points out of a playoff spot into fourth. In their 7-2 win against Tampa Bay on Tuesday night, Viktor Arvidsson scored twice, and Tanner Jeannot notched his first-career goal."

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/gameday-preview-nashville-predators-carolina-hurricanes/c-323655776

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/projected-lineup-nashville-predators-carolina-hurricanes/c-323672842

"Forwards

Svechnikov-Aho-Fast
Martinook-Trocheck-Necas
Niederreiter-Staal-Foegele
Paquette-Lorentz-Geekie

Defensemen

Slavin-Hamilton
Skjei-Pesce
Bean-Hakanpaa

Goalies

Mrazek
Nedeljkovic

Scratch: Reimer

Injuries: McGinn (upper body), Teravainen (concussion symptoms; injured reserve)

Taxi squad: Gardiner, McCormick, Ryan, Shore"

Looking forward to having a chippy defensemen to give this team some energy that we’ve been sorely lacking as of late. Even if he hits the penalty box often he’s not part of our penalty kill unit so it evens out. Hopefully Mrazek has a good bounce back game and doesn’t start falling into bad habits like his last game. Oh and stop flipping the lines every three seconds Rod. Let them find a rhythm. Nashville is the hottest team in the NHL right now but if I’m not mistaken they are still running quite a few call ups on defense so set up in the zone and wear them down.  

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by Harbingers

[Stumpy]

Longtime Caniac, and host of The 700 Club, Pat Robertson is in the house tonight! 

Edited April 15, 2021 by Stumpy

[Anybodyhome]

1 hour ago, Stumpy said:

Longtime Caniac, and host of The 700 Club, Pat Robertson is in the house tonight! 

Maybe he can pray away the Preds. Had you not mentioned this I would continue to assume he's dead.

[Stumpy]

55 minutes ago, Anybodyhome said:

I would continue to assume he's dead.

Even he's not sure.

[Stumpy]

Is repetitive sub concussive trauma really the best warm up, though? 

Edited April 15, 2021 by Stumpy

[Harbingers]

Nashville is legit. Holy poo. Also. Mrazek. 

[Harbingers]

We have way better hitting energy tonight. 

[Harbingers]

Hakanpaa man. Hit the same dude there times on the board, lightly but forcefully. I don’t think Nashville was ready for him. 

[Anybodyhome]

Hakanpaa has more hits in the first period than Dougie has all year.

[Stumpy]

1 minute ago, Anybodyhome said:

Hakanpaa has more hits in the first period than Dougie has all year.

Dougie hit someone? 

[Harbingers]

Just now, Anybodyhome said:

Hakanpaa has more hits in the first period than Dougie has all year.

Ya I was gonna say the big man in town has been replaced but I think Dougie still has a couple inches on him. 

[Harbingers]

3 minutes ago, Anybodyhome said:

Hakanpaa has more hits in the first period than Dougie has all year.

I will say from what we’ve seen so far Dougie still has way more stick finesse. He just oversells offense too much consistently. 

[Stumpy]

[Harbingers]

Oh baby. We played down to Detroit. We on point tonight.