Hurricanes at Predators
A four-game homestand has been a disaster for the Nashville Predators, who have lost the first three contests heading into Thursday's matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Predators have managed only three goals during the three-game skid, somewhat reminiscent of a four-game slide last month during which they were outscored 17-2. Playing in the highly competitive Central Division is not helping Nashville, which is buried in last place despite a winning record.
Conversely, the Hurricanes have the luxury of playing in the Metropolitan Division and sit only three points out of second place despite owning a sub-.500 mark. Carolina dropped six of eight games before turning in one of its more impressive performances of the season in a 4-1 road win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. The Hurricanes are seeking their first win in 11 years in Nashville, having been outscored 15-6 in their last four trips to Tennessee.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sport South (North Carolina), FSN Tennessee (Nashville)
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (11-12-5): Jeff Skinner sparked the win over Washington with a pair of goals and an assist, the first time he registered multiple tallies in a game since Jan. 24, 2013. Skinner certain has a scoring touch, producing 31 goals in his rookie season en route to winning the Calder Trophy, but he missed 11 games this season with an upper-body injury. "He got off to a great start and then he got hurt," coach Kirk Muller said. "Now he's starting to get in the groove again. He's a goal scorer, and if you give him a chance, he's going to score."
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (13-12-3): Nashville again will be without captain Shea Weber, who has been sidelined since taking a puck near the eye in a loss to Edmonton on Nov. 28. Weber was tied for the league lead among defensemen with seven goals at the time of his injury and the Predators are 7-0-0 in games in which he has scored. The towering blue-liner's absence puts more of an onus on goaltender Marek Mazanec, who has made 11 consecutive starts and was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for November.
OVERTIME
1. Nashville has surrendered only one goal in its last 25 short-handed situations.
2. The Hurricanes rank 27th with the man advantage (12.5 percent) and have converted 3-of-32 chances in their last nine games.
3. Predators F Colin Wilson has endured a pair of 11-game goalless streaks this season, but he has scored in back-to-back games.