Preseason Preview: Hurricanes at Predators
Young lineup gets another look in Nashville
by Michael Smith @MSmithCanes / CarolinaHurricanes.com
With just over a week left before Opening Night, the clock is ticking on training camp.
The Carolina Hurricanes close out their six-game exhibition slate with three preseason games in five days, beginning with a Wednesday night match-up in Nashville.
With additional roster cuts looming - there are still 40 players in camp, while a team can only carry a maximum of 23 on its active roster once the regular season begins - tonight's preseason tilt might be one final opportunity for some to make a lasting impression.
"There are a few spots open, and there are guys we're looking at, for sure," Head coach Rod Brind'Amour said on Tuesday. "At some point here real quick we'll have to get down to our group and get to the nuts and bolts of it."
With that in mind, the Hurricanes' lineup on Wednesday will be light on experience, especially on the blue line where Haydn Fleury is the elder statesman in terms of NHL games played.
Up front, a couple of new faces in Ryan Dzingel and Erik Haula flank Martin Necas' left side on the Canes' top line. Julien Gauthier, who has had a strong showing in the first three preseason games, will get yet another look in Nashville on a line with Warren Foegele and Morgan Geekie.
The Predators, meanwhile, will ice a fairly veteran lineup, as they have just 26 players remaining in camp. Look for tonight and Friday night's tilt in Raleigh to be dress rehearsal-like for their Opening Night crew.
Hurricanes Lineup
Dzingel-Haula-Necas
Kuokkanen-Suzuki-Niederreiter
Lorentz-Bishop-Markison
Foegele-Geekie-Gauthier
Bean-Fleury
Sellgren-Wood
Forsling-McKeown
Forsberg
Nedeljkovic
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