Playoff hockey is back in Raleigh, and the Carolina Hurricanes, the top seed in the Central Division, host the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of the First Round.
After a weeklong layoff, the Canes are healthy again – for the most part. Brock McGinn will draw back in after missing the last 19 games of the season with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Jaccob Slavin participated in the morning skate but remains a game-time decision, according to head coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Here is the projected lineup for the Hurricanes.
Forwards
Niederreiter-Aho-Teravainen
Foegele-Trocheck-Necas
Svechnikov-Staal-Fast
Martinook-Lorentz-McGinn
Defensemen
Skjei-Hamilton
Bean-Pesce
Gardiner-Hakanpaa
Goalies
Nedeljkovic
Mrazek
Injuries: Paquette (lower body), Slavin (lower body)
Scratches: Geekie, McCormick, McKeown, Ryan, Shore