Nashville is the opposite story. The Predators are 5-4-5, and those 5 loser-point games tell you most of it. They keep getting into the 3rd period with a chance and losing anyway, including back-to-back 4-3 home losses to the Islanders and Capitals. Halloween finally went their way. Steven Stamkos scored the tying goal in regulation and the only goal of the shootout, and the 5-4 win over Tampa was the franchise's first extra-time victory of the season.
There were real positives in that Tampa win. Justus Annunen made 22 saves through regulation and overtime, then stopped all 4 Lightning shooters in his first career shootout. The penalty kill went 3-for-3 against a power play run by Nikita Kucherov. Scoring came from all over the lineup too: Reid Schaefer, Adam Edstrom and Jayden Struble all got on the board. A depth-driven team that can kill penalties is a reasonable way to handle Carolina. The catch is that Nashville has allowed 4 goals in 3 of its last 4 games, and doing that against this group usually loses.
The question Carolina hasn't answered is in net. Kochetkov started the Winnipeg game as his 4th straight, and the Hurricanes are coming off 3 straight home games before heading out for Tuesday. Brind'Amour hasn't said who starts here. If the unbeaten goalie gets a night off, the game looks a lot different for a Nashville team that has been in nearly every game it's played. Puck drop is 7:00 PM CT.
On paper this is a top team against a .500-ish club that has been unlucky in close games. The Hurricanes have won 4 straight as of Sunday and have allowed 3 goals across that run. The Predators' best case is the game they keep almost winning: tight into the 3rd, special teams holding, and Annunen giving them a chance late. Whether Carolina lets it get there is the whole game.
