Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette praised the young players on Monday, but believes the assignments are best for their development at this stage. Due to the transactions, Nashville's roster now holds 26 players, and barring injuries, three of them will not be with the club once final moves are made next week ahead of Opening Night.
"That's part of moving guys on as well is that we've got to get to our lines and our team," Laviolette said Monday. "These last two exhibition games are for our guys to be ready to play. I think it's important that we try to see more of the line combinations and pairings and just getting those reps as a team, so these games against Carolina] are important."
Some of those line combinations have included Ryan Johansen between Viktor Arvidsson and Kyle Turris, and then Matt Duchene centering Filip Forsberg and Mikael Granlund.
Nashville's new-look power play also came alive on Saturday night, with the top unit comprised of Duchene, Johansen, Arvidsson, Forsberg and Roman Josi converting twice in the win.
"They moved the puck really well, and it made a difference in the game, a positive difference," Laviolette said. "That's really what you look for from your power play. It's early, it's just one game, but you look for positive signs, and there were certainly some in the game against Tampa."
Nashville's roster for tonight's game may be
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.
Last Time Out:
The Predators staged a dramatic comeback in Saturday's 5-4 overtime win against the Lightning with Duchene tying the game with just 3.8 seconds to play in regulation. Forsberg, Arvidsson and Tolvanen also scored in regulation before Pitlick won it in overtime. Goaltender Pekka Rinne was in net for the Preds in his first game action of the preseason.
The Opposition:
Carolina has three more games to go in the preseason including tonight's contest; they're 2-1-0 thus far. On Tuesday, the Hurricanes acquired defenseman Joel Edmundson, forward Dominik Bokk and the Blues' seventh-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Justin Faulk and Carolina's fifth-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Carolina had 47 players remaining on their training camp roster.
When You Go:
The Bridgestone Arena plaza opens at 5 p.m. CT ahead of tonight's 7 p.m. puck drop; arena doors open to the public at 5:30 p.m. CT.
Please note the updated Bridgestone Arena bag policy for the Predators' 2019-20 season: