Preview: Hurricanes at Predators

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.
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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.

The Last Meeting

The Canes capped their longest homestand of the season with a
3-1 win over Nashville
, their sixth straight victory against the Preds this season. Jani Hakanpää, in his second game with his new team, scored his first goal of the season, which ended up being the game-winning tally.

"It's nice to see him get that. Obviously it was a big goal," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "That's the best way to feel part of a group, for sure, when you can contribute like that. It came at a great time for us."

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