Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
There may be little at stake in the standings — the Carolina Hurricanes are locked into second place in the Metro Division, and the Nashville Predators are set to miss the playoffs for just the second time in 11 seasons — but that doesn’t mean the hockey won’t be worth watching. With little pressure, both teams have the freedom to open up and entertain, and their recent head-to-head history suggests they will.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have been on a tear this month, racking up nine wins from 11 games. In seven of those victories, they scored three or more goals. Beneath the surface, the advanced stats back it up: in March, the Hurricanes are tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the highest 5-on-5 expected goals per 60 minutes (3.22). They don't rely on a single star — ten players have already hit double digits in goals. Veteran winger Taylor Hall (15+20) has found his stride with five goals in his last five games, including a hat-trick against the Anaheim Ducks (5:2).
Nashville Predators
The Predators, meanwhile, have fallen well short of expectations. After a dismal showing against the Anaheim Ducks (1:4), head coach Andrew Brunette even went public with a plea for his senior players to keep the standards high despite having little left to play for. The Predators are still generating chances: they rank top-five in the league this spring in both xG and high-danger opportunities. But they simply haven’t been able to keep the puck out — their goaltenders have combined for a dismal 87% save percentage, 26th in the NHL.
Carolina Hurricanes vs Nashville Predators Prediction
Historically, this matchup leans heavily towards the high-scoring side. In five of the last six meetings, these sides have comfortably cleared the 5.5-goal mark — with seven or more total goals in most of them.
