Hurricanes Aim for 10th Win Against Predators Tonight in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes will look for their tenth victory in eleven games when they host the Nashville Predators tonight at 7 p.m. Following a rough outing in Los Angeles where goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov allowed more than four goals for the first time this season, the 25-year-old will attempt to bounce back on home ice.

Despite his recent struggles, Kochetkov is set to receive support from the same lineup of skaters that earned a decisive 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour announced that the lineup will remain unchanged, even with Andrei Svechnikov sidelined due to an upper-body injury.

Svechnikov participated in the morning skate but was held as an extra, indicating he will miss his seventh consecutive game. “I think we’re at a point now where he probably could have gone tonight, but he hasn’t had a real good practice, and with the way that travel was, it just didn’t feel like tonight would be the right night,” Brind’Amour said. “I would anticipate that if everything keeps going in the right direction that he’ll be in the next game.”

The Hurricanes are heavy favorites with odds of -285 provided by Fanatics Sportsbook, as they aim to maintain their momentum against a struggling Predators team.

Injuries continue to impact the Hurricanes, with William Carrier expected to be sidelined for another couple of months while Jesper Fast is out for the season. Meanwhile, the Predators, who are searching for consistency, come into this game hoping to reclaim their form after a recent three-game losing streak.

Tonight’s matchup will feature Kochetkov in net, with backup Frederik Andersen waiting for a chance to contribute. The Hurricanes’ defense consists of Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, and others, while the forwards will include Martinook, Aho, Staal, and Roslovic.

In related news, the St. Louis Blues are also in action tonight as they seek a seventh straight victory against the Montreal Canadiens. The Blues will welcome back Oskar Sundqvist and Nick Leddy to their lineup following maintenance days, further deepening their roster as they look to continue their winning streak.

As for the teams on ice, expect an exciting matchup filled with playoff-caliber intensity as both franchises seek critical points in their respective campaigns. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET.