Nashville Predators vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions December 23rd 2024

Hurricanes, Predators Look to Enter Holiday Break on High Notes

As the NHL’s holiday break approaches, the Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators are both eager to close out this stretch with positive momentum. On Monday night, the two teams will meet in Nashville, Tenn., with each aiming to carry a two-game winning streak into the break.

Carolina’s Momentum

The Hurricanes (4-2 in their last six games) bounced back from recent inconsistencies with a solid 3-1 road win against the New York Rangers on Sunday. Despite falling behind on the game’s first shot, goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov rebounded impressively, stopping the next 22 attempts.

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With the back-to-back scheduling and a holiday break looming, Kochetkov is likely to return to the net on Monday. His confidence-building performance against the Rangers was buoyed by his surprising offensive contributions, tallying two secondary assists.

“We needed some offense, so we’ll get it from anybody,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said, referencing Kochetkov’s all-around impact.

Carolina captain Jordan Staal also reached a milestone in the win, recording his 400th career NHL assist. The Hurricanes, however, continue to grapple with uneven scoring. While Martin Necas leads the team with 14 goals, he’s been quiet lately, going seven games without a tally and contributing just three assists during that span. Andrei Svechnikov, meanwhile, has struggled at even strength, with just one 5-on-5 goal this season.

On the brighter side, offseason addition Jack Roslovic has emerged as a key contributor. His goal on Sunday tied him with Necas for the team lead at 14, marking the second-highest total of his nine-year NHL career.

Predators Heating Up

The Predators (3-1-1 in their last five games) are finding their form at just the right time. Nashville secured a 3-2 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, with defenseman Nick Blankenburg netting his first career overtime goal.

“I’ve just continued to trust in my game,” said Blankenburg. “Very thankful for the opportunity to go out in OT and just happy I was able to score.”

With a 2-0-1 record so far on their current homestand, Nashville is eager to finish strong before the break. Left wing Zach L’Heureux noted the team’s recent improvement, saying, “We’re really motivated, one game before Christmas, and we want to close out this homestand on the right side.”

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Monday’s game also marks a reunion of sorts, as Nashville defenseman Brady Skjei faces his former Hurricanes teammates. Skjei’s offensive production has dipped this season—three goals and eight assists with a minus-4 rating—but he showed flashes of his capabilities with a two-point performance in an overtime loss to Pittsburgh last week.

Keys to the Game

For Carolina, consistency remains a focus. Brind’Amour expressed a desire for the Hurricanes to capitalize more effectively on their opportunities, particularly as Necas and Svechnikov work to regain their scoring touch.

“Sometimes the pieces haven’t quite come together,” Brind’Amour said. “We’re not scoring (a lot). We’re missing some of the pieces that we’re counting on haven’t really materialized.”

Meanwhile, the Predators will look to build on their strong defensive play and capitalize on contributions from depth players like Blankenburg. Nashville’s ability to maintain its recent momentum could hinge on neutralizing Carolina’s top forwards while continuing to generate timely goals.

With both teams looking to head into the break on a high, expect a competitive clash in Nashville.