Preview: Predators vs. Hurricanes

A two-game set against the Nashville Predators will bring an end to the Carolina Hurricanes' longest homestand of the season.

The Match-Up

Nashville Predators (24-19-1, 49 points) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (27-10-4, 58 points)
Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m.
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Tracking the Storylines

Here's Jani: After being acquired from Anaheim at the trade deadline on Monday, defenseman Jani Hakanpää is set to make his debut with the Canes. He skated with Jake Bean in practice on Wednesday, providing a steady, stay-at-home complement to Bean's more offensive-minded style of play.
"He's a big dude out there. He's got a long reach and a good stick. That physical presence, that's obvious," head coach Brind'Amour said. "That's something that every team wants to have, and it's something that's going to help us, for sure."
Down the Stretch: There's just under a month left to play in the regular season. After their last two-day gap in between games in this compact schedule, the Canes will play their final 15 games over a frantic 26-day stretch, a game every 1.73 days. The Canes have maintained their position in first place in the Central Division with a 27-10-4 record and 58 points.

The Opposition

Last five games: 4-1-0, 8 points
On the road: 11-10-1, 23 points
CAR vs. NSH: 4-0-0
Leading scorer: Filip Forsberg, 29 points (11g, 18a) in 34 games
The Predators are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, having won 13 of their last 16 games. In recording 26 points since March 15, second most in the league in that timeframe, the Predators have charged up the Central Division standings from seventh place and 10 points out of a playoff spot into fourth. In their 7-2 win against Tampa Bay on Tuesday night, Viktor Arvidsson scored twice, and Tanner Jeannot notched his first-career goal.

The Last Meeting

The Canes earned their seventh straight victory in a 5-1 win against the Predators on March 11. Beginning with a power-play goal from Morgan Geekie, the Canes tallied three goals in a 2:21 span in the first period to establish a commanding 3-0 lead. Geekie added his second of the game in the second period to stretch the lead, and Martin Necas scored the team's third power-play marker of the night in the third period to make it a 5-0 game before the Preds tacked on a goal in the last five minutes of regulation.

"We were pretty opportunistic tonight, especially early," said James Reimer, who finished with 32 saves. "Didn't really give them a sniff. That's what you want to do."

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