The Stanley Cup Playoffs have returned.
A week after they faced off twice to conclude the regular season, the Preds and Hurricanes will clash in a playoff series for the first time. Nashville won the seventh and eighth meetings of the season, after falling to Carolina in the first six matchups. Games 1 (tonight at 7 p.m. CT) and 2 will be at PNC Arena, before the series shifts to Nashville and Bridgestone Arena for Games 3 and 4.
The Preds have practiced and prepared the past week and should be the healthiest they've been in months, possibly for the entire season. For example, forward Viktor Arvidsson has been skating regularly the past few days. Nashville Head Coach John Hynes says Arvidsson will return to the lineup tonight.
The Hurricanes won the Central Division for the first time since the 2005-06 season, when they also won the Stanley Cup. They have some lineup question marks as well, including the availability of defenseman Jaccob Slavin.
Below is a Preds projected lineup for Game 1:
Game 1 Projected Lineup: Predators at Hurricanes
Vanderbilt Health Projected Lineup: Nashville, Carolina Begin First-Ever Playoff Series with Two Games at PNC Arena