Stanley Cup Playoffs Round One: Predators Vs. Hurricanes Series Thread

[Harbingers]

"For as long as they've been in North Carolina, the Carolina Hurricanes had not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in three consecutive seasons until this year.

Their ascent to a perennial contender began in 2018-19, when they surged up the standings in the second half of the season to break a decade-long playoff drought. The Canes then re-captured the hearts and minds of a yearning fanbase in a magical run to the Eastern Conference Final. That was only the beginning.

The Match-Up

(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (4) Nashville Predators

Game 1: Monday, May 17 | 8 p.m. | PNC Arena
Game 2: Wednesday, May 19 | 8 p.m. | PNC Arena
Game 3: Friday, May 21 | 7 p.m. | Bridgestone Arena
Game 4: Sunday, May 23 | TBA | Bridgestone Arena
Game 5*: Tuesday, May 25 | TBA | PNC Arena
Game 6*: Thursday, May 27 | TBA | Bridgestone Arena
Game 7*: Saturday, May 29 | TBA | PNC Arena

*If necessary

Revisiting the Season Series

The Canes dominated the first six games of the season series, going 6-0-0 and outscoring the Predators 23-9 in those games. By the time the puck dropped in the final two games of the regular season in Nashville, the Canes had already clinched the Central Division title, while the Predators were fighting to secure their seventh consecutive playoff berth.

"We played them 4 or 5 times without their full lineup. You could tell it was a big difference," Brind'Amour said. "When they got healthy, they kind of got their game going. I think they were a little bit all over the place, maybe because of the injuries. All of a sudden, the last month or month and a half, that was the team everyone expected to see from the get-go."

The Bottom Line

The Canes were the top team in the Central Division and third-best team in the NHL in the regular season. But that was just the regular season, the first step in a longer journey.

Now, it counts for real.

"We accomplished the one part, which was get to this level where we get the chance to compete for the championship," Brind'Amour said. "Now we've got to ramp it up to go get it.""

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/playoffs-first-round-series-preview-carolina-hurricanes-nashville-predators/c-324706892

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/game-1-preview-nashville-predators-carolina-hurricanes/c-324746462

"The Carolina Hurricanes make their third consecutive postseason appearances and begin their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup in Game 1 against the Nashville Predators.

Game 1

(4) Nashville Predators (31-23-2, 64 points) vs. (1) Carolina Hurricanes (36-12-8, 80 points)

Monday, May 17, 8 p.m.

Watch: Bally Sports South, Bally Sports app, CNBC

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

Numbers to Know

8: This marks the Canes' eighth playoff appearance in North Carolina and third in the last three years.

3: Three players on the Canes' roster have previously won the Stanley Cup: Cedric Paquette (TB, 2020), Jordan Staal (PIT, 2009) and Teuvo Teravainen (CHI, 2015).

6: Six players on the Canes' roster were members of the Charlotte Checkers team that won the Calder Cup in 2019: Jake Bean, Morgan Geekie, Steven Lorentz, Roland McKeown, Martin Necas and Alex Nedeljkovic.

The Opposition

Last five games: 4-1-0, 8 points
On the road: 13-13-2, 28 points
CAR vs. NSH: 6-2-0
Leading scorer: Roman Josi, 33 points (8g, 25a) in 48 games

The Predators won four of their last five games of the regular season, including the last two against the Canes, to secure their seventh consecutive postseason berth. Goaltender Juuse Saros was a critical piece of Nashville's second-half push. From Feb. 27 on, Saros was 18-6-1 with a 1.88 goals-against average, a .941 save percentage and three shutouts."

 

[Harbingers]

The big question marks going into Game One. Mrazek or Ned, will Pesce and Slavin start? Does Lorentz or Paquette start if we have a true full compliment of forwards? 
 

Our last two performances against Nashville sucked. Our defense sucked, Mrazek sucked. Nashville was a new team in essence. Fast forward a week, do our Canes let that carry over? How has the practice effected our finesse game. Are we ready to get physical. I’m guessing Nashville is going to come out with a chip on their shoulder this game and their first home game with a 12/10 physicality level. They are going to try and beat us up, we need to respond in kind, with goals. Getting Saros off his game early is critical. 
 

Their 4th line is something special right now but if we actually have a full compliment of McGinn, Paquette/Lorentz, Martinook I feel like we have the better 4th line in the end. 

If Slavin isn’t a go Gardiner better get his poo in gear cause he’ll most likely be with Hamilton on the one. If we are missing both Slavin and Pesce. Just Ugh. Seriously. 
 

On the Nashville front form what I’ve been able to divine they’ll be in the 95% healthy range getting Viktor Arvidsson back tonight. Saros is hot. Their D is not 5/6 call ups. And they are riding a 4-5 win streak. 
 

12,000(11,000 really) fans tonight better mainline that energy directly into the eye wall of our storm. Let’s go Canes! 

[Harbingers]

Poo forgot to put this at the header of the OP. @LinvilleGorge would one of you mods mind putting this at the top of the OP please and thank you.

 

[Harbingers]

More Hype!

[Harbingers]

Sounds like Slavin is a big if.

[Harbingers]

 

[Harbingers]

 

[Harbingers]

Paquette is a scratch. Lorentz getting the start.

[Anybodyhome]

11 minutes ago, Harbingers said:

Paquette is a scratch. Lorentz getting the start.

Lorentz has shown some grit and not been intimidated by some of the bigger names in the division.

I have no doubt Nashville is coming out to hit people and get Carolina off their game.

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

 

Slavin on the Ice ALL hands on deck call me NAIVE if you'd like but I think the Canes crush Nashville tonight and the series.

[Harbingers]

Ok that's pretty good.

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

My bet is Slavin is a go.

[Harbingers]

20 minutes ago, TrevorLaurenceTime22 said:

My bet is Slavin is a go.

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/game-1-projected-lineup-nashville-predators-carolina-hurricanes/c-324766100

"Playoff hockey is back in Raleigh, and the Carolina Hurricanes, the top seed in the Central Division, host the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of the First Round.

After a weeklong layoff, the Canes are healthy again - for the most part. Brock McGinn will draw back in after missing the last 19 games of the season with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Jaccob Slavin participated in the morning skate but remains a game-time decision, according to head coach Rod Brind'Amour

Here is the projected lineup for the Hurricanes.

Forwards

Niederreiter-Aho-Teravainen
Foegele-Trocheck-Necas
Svechnikov-Staal-Fast
Martinook-Lorentz-McGinn

Defensemen

Skjei-Hamilton
Bean-Pesce
Gardiner-Hakanpaa

Goalies

Nedeljkovic
Mrazek

Injuries: Paquette (lower body), Slavin (lower body)

Scratches: Geekie, McCormick, McKeown, Ryan, Shore"

Smokescreen perhaps? Really don't know which way this is gonna go.

[Harbingers]

1 hour ago, Anybodyhome said:

Lorentz has shown some grit and not been intimidated by some of the bigger names in the division.

I have no doubt Nashville is coming out to hit people and get Carolina off their game.

I’m just hoping he’s been practicing passing all week. His defense and physicality has been superb, his passing and puck possession have been lacking even at his peak this past month. I know he wants to shoot and get goals but right now I want to see him up his possession in the offensive zone game.

Too many times we’ve tried to set up the Aho line in the offensive zone with the 4th line and because a bad pass we end up having the one line on defense for the whole shift. 

McGinn and Martinook should help that a lot too though.