Predators at Blue Jackets
THE STORY: Higher expectations highlight Friday's regular-season opener between the Nashville Predators and the host Columbus Blue Jackets. Nashville reached the second round of the postseason for the first time in franchise history in the spring, and will hope to ride Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne to an even better result this season. Nashville has been dogged for years by questions about where the bulk of its offense will come from, and this season will likely be no different. Columbus has long faced its own problems up front, but should receive a major boost after acquiring talented forward Jeff Carter from the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter and Rick Nash will form an enviable goal-scoring tandem, but getting some help from the rest of the skaters will be pivotal to the Blue Jackets reaching the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSTN, FSOH
ABOUT THE PREDATORS: Nashville allowed the second-fewest goals in the Western Conference last season, which was the only way the club could have ended up with 99 points. A strong group of up-and-comers will assuredly give Predators fans reason for optimism, but with Sergei Kostitsyn topping the club with 23 goals last season - and with no notable additions to the offensive core in the offseason - the Predators could be in for a long year if the defense and goaltending isn't top notch once again.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS: Carter faced questions about his penchant for partying while with the Flyers, but Columbus happily took a chance on the one-time 46-goal scorer in hopes he will kickstart a moribund Blue Jackets offense. Columbus was one of just a handful of teams to score fewer goals than Nashville in 2010-11, and without a sensational back end to help out, the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 years.
OVERTIME:
1. Carter and Nash have combined to score 220 goals over the last three seasons.
2. Rinne has feasted on Columbus in his career, going 9-4-0 with a 2.43 goals-against average in 14 games. The nine victories are the most Rinne has racked up against any NHL opponent.
3. Nashville won four of six meetings between the teams last season and went unbeaten at home against the Blue Jackets.
PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 3, Predators 2. Great players find extra motivation in milestone games, so expect Carter to be jacked for this one. He and Nash will score one apiece, and Columbus will prevail.