After taking advantage of a rare off-day, the Nashville Predators kick off their third back-to-back set of the month on Friday during their first meeting of the year with the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.
In Raleigh, the Predators will face a Hurricanes team returning 2-4-0 from a six-game road trip and completing their second back-to-back set in as many weeks.
Still, a tremendous home record of 8-2-1, plus elite scoring ability from the likes of Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis should be plenty to keep Nashville on their toes.
“We respect everybody,” Predators forward Cody Glass said following a team practice Thursday. “Every team we play, we treat them with respect and treat them like a tough team to beat, and [the Hurricanes] are… So, we’re looking forward to the challenge. They play a fast game, and play a lot like us, so it’s going to be a good challenge for us, and we’ll need to dial in and get back to playing our game.”
Puck drop is at 6:30 p.m. CT, with the game set to broadcast exclusively on ESPN+/Hulu, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio. Here’s everything you need to know:
LAST TIME OUT
On Tuesday, the Predators earned their 11th win in the last 14 games by way of a 3-2 overtime decision over the Philadelphia Flyers at Bridgestone Arena.
Filip Forsberg’s overtime-winner earned the veteran forward sole possession of the franchise’s all-time overtime goals record (10) and Juuse Saros set a new season high, stopping 37 shots for his fifth win in as many starts.
Gustav Nyquist and Michael McCarron each scored their fourth goal of the season, while Luke Schenn picked up his first point as a Predator assisting McCarron’s second period tally.
The Predators penalty kill went a perfect 4-for-4, while the power play failed to capitalize on three opportunities.
The result moved Nashville to 16-13-0 on the season and 10-6-0 at home.
THE GOOD GUYS
Forsberg continues to lead the Predators in points (33), goals (15) and assists (18). Ryan O’Reilly and Roman Josi are second in points with 23 each (12g-11a and 6g-17a, respectively).
Saros is 13-10-0 after 23 games, with a 2.79 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Kevin Lankinen is 3-3-0, with a 3.04 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage in eight games.
Nashville sits fourth in the Central Division with 32 points.
THE OTHER GUYS
Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes in points (25) and assists (15). Teuvo Teravainen leads his club in goals with 11.
With Pyotr Kochetkov getting the start on the first half of Carolina’s back-to-back Thursday, Antti Raanta is likely to receive the nod on Friday. Raanta is 6-5-0 after 13 games, with a 3.40 goals against average and a .860 save percentage.
The Hurricanes are missing forward Andrei Svechnikov (upper body) and goaltender Frederik Andersen (IR). They currently sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division with 33 points and a 16-12-1 overall record.
ALL-TIME MEETINGS
The Predators are 19-19-(1)-4 all-time against the Hurricanes, including a 7-11-(1)-3 record on the road. This is the first of two matchups between Nashville and Carolina in 2023-24; it is the first and only at PNC Arena.
The Predators are 3-2-0 in their last five games against the Hurricanes; they are 4-5-1 in their last 10; and 1-4-0 in their last five on the road.
The Predators went 2-0-0 against the Hurricanes in 2022-23, sweeping the regular-season series for the first time since 2015-16. Juuse Saros made 64 saves in a 5-3 win at PNC Arena on Jan. 5 and followed it up with a 33-save shutout at home on April 6.
Nashville picked up its first-ever victory as an NHL franchise on Oct. 13, 1998 in a 3-2 win over Carolina. Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette scored the franchise’s first goal at 5:12 of the first period.
NOTABLES VS. CAROLINA
- Juuse Saros made 64 saves in Nashville’s win at Carolina on Jan. 5, 2023. It was the most saves in a game in franchise history, the most by an NHL goaltender since 1990 and tied for third-most in a game in NHL history. He owns a .927 save percentage, 2.54 goals-against average and one shutout in 14 career games against the Hurricanes.
- Ryan McDonagh has 20 career points (6g-14a) against Carolina, the most among current Predators skaters.
- Filip Forsberg owns seven goals and 12 points in 20 career meetings with Carolina.
- Colton Sissons has four points (2g-2a) and a +2 rating in 19 career contests vs. Carolina.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Colton Sissons is two assists from 100 in his NHL career.
- Roman Josi (164) is three goals from passing Shea Weber (166) for the third-most in Predators history.
- Kevin Lankinen is four games from 100 in his NHL career.
- Tommy Novak is four games from 100 in his NHL career
LINE ‘EM UP
Below are Nashville’s line combinations from Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia:
Forsberg - O'Reilly - Nyquist
Sherwood - Novak - Evangelista
Trenin - Glass - Sissons
Pärssinen - McCarron - Smith
Josi - Fabbro
McDonagh - Carrier
Lauzon - Schenn
Saros
Lankinen
Scratches: Barrie, Tomasino
WATCH & LISTEN
Friday’s game will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+/Hulu, with play-by-play announcer Mike Monaco, analyst Ryan Callahan and between-the-benches reporter Blake Bolden getting the call on the television side.
Pete Weber and Jay More will call the game on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network, with pregame, postgame and intermission coverage by Max Herz beginning one hour before puck drop. The game will also be broadcast in Spanish on El Jefe which airs on 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM and 810 AM. (El partido también se transmite en español por El Jefe en 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM y 810 AM.)
