Hurricanes @ Predators 5/8-5/10 Regular Season Final Two

[Harbingers]

"NASHVILLE - In a possible first round preview, the Central Division champion Carolina Hurricanes face off with the Nashville Predators in the final two games of the regular season.

The Match-Up

Carolina Hurricanes (36-10-8, 80 points) at Nashville Predators (29-23-2, 60 points)

Saturday, May 8, 8 p.m.

Watch: Bally Sports South, Bally Sports app

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

Numbers to Know

1: Even though they were idle on Friday night, the Canes locked up the first seed in the Central Division. It marks the team's fourth division title since 1997 and their first since 2005-06.

13: The Canes are riding a 13-game point streak (9-0-4), which ties a franchise best last set in 2017.

17: The Canes have won all six match-ups against the Predators this season and have won 13 of their last 14 against Nashville. In their last 21 games in the series between the two teams, the Canes are 17-3-1.

The Opposition

Last five games: 3-2-0, 6 points
At home: 16-10-0, 32 points
CAR vs. NSH: 6-0-0
Leading scorer: Roman Josi, 33 points (8g, 25a) in 47 games

With two games remaining in their regular season, the Predators' magic number for locking up the fourth seed in the Central Division is two points. Nashville won two straight games in overtime to begin May but dropped a 4-2 decision to the Columbus Jackets on Wednesday."

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/gameday-preview-carolina-hurricanes-nashville-predators/c-324448914

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/projected-lineup-carolina-hurricanes-nashville-predators/c-324477108

""There's one way to play," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "If you're in the lineup, you've got to go full speed ahead."

Here is the projected lineup for the Hurricanes.

Forwards

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen
Niederreiter-Trocheck-Necas
Foegele-Staal-Fast
McCormick-Lorentz-Geekie

Defensemen

Slavin-Hamilton
Skjei-Pesce
Bean-Hakanpaa

Goalies

Nedeljkovic
Mrazek

Scratches: Gardiner, Reimer

Injuries: Martinook (lower body), McGinn (upper body), Paquette (lower body)

Taxi squad: McKeown, Ryan, Shore"

 

Well here we are, division champs for the first time in 15 years. We have semi control over first place in the league as well. Rod quote “If your in the lineup your full speed ahead” signals we are still going for the one seed but he did mention that we do have semi control over who we play in the playoffs.

Nashville needs two points(from a regulation win) or a stars loss in either of their final two games to acquire fourth place. Nashville can also win with two overtime losses.

We are currently tied with the Golden Knights for the one seed maximum of 84, though id the tie breaker goes to ROW’s they would beat us. So any way you look at it we have to win out and they have to lose at least one of their 3 remaining games in overtime or regulation for us to have control. 
 

Martinook practiced with the 4th line today split with McCormick so not sure if we will see him tonight. Brock and Paquette practiced with the extras. 
 

Edited May 8, 2021 by Harbingers

[Harbingers]

One correction. Vegas could win all the rest of their games in OT and we win the rest of ours in regulation and we’d win the RW tiebreaker. Barring that Vegas must beat Col and the Blues again plus the sharks to have control of the one seed. 

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

20 minutes ago, Harbingers said:

One correction. Vegas could win all the rest of their games in OT and we win the rest of ours in regulation and we’d win the RW tiebreaker. Barring that Vegas must beat Col and the Blues again plus the sharks to have control of the one seed. 

Beat em tonight and see how the cards fall for Monday, Strategically sitting some firepower then might be in play.

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

Also I have noticed just how much having Ned in net helps our offense the past few games, his ability to move the puck makes him 1A over a healthy Petr IMO

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

LOL

[Harbingers]

TB is resting their top D players.

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

29 minutes ago, Harbingers said:

TB is resting their top D players.

FL up 1-0. TBH thinking ahead and kinda of pulling for FL in their series vs TB as I think we take them in 5 or 6.

[Anybodyhome]

Hoping precaution is the reason for holding Pacquette out. He's a streaky guy and plays better if he's consistently in the lineup.

[Harbingers]

3 minutes ago, Anybodyhome said:

Hoping precaution is the reason for holding Pacquette out. He's a streaky guy and plays better if he's consistently in the lineup.

Hope so, I think he may have been more injured than just some banged up vet rest. 

[Harbingers]

Is it me or is the camera really dark this game. 

[Popsickle]

Just play hard, don’t try and game the system. It’ll all work out in the end. If you need to game the system, to avoid a less favorable matchup you’re not doing yourself any favors. 

[Popsickle]

Just now, Harbingers said:

Is it me or is the camera really dark this game. 

I was thinking it was an issue with my eyes with the white ice and yellow sweaters. But I’m “streaming” so my feed isn’t a constant 1080. 

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

2 minutes ago, Popsickle said:

Just play hard, don’t try and game the system. It’ll all work out in the end. If you need to game the system, to avoid a less favorable matchup you’re not doing yourself any favors. 

I wouldn't consider it gaming the system doing your job up until this point gives you the right to pick your matchup.

[Popsickle]

Those close up views of that tie up looked a hell of a lot better than the normal game camera view. Maybe it is something with the lighting at the stadium.