As of the writing of this article (1620 February 17, 2020), both the Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators sit but a point out from their respective second wild card spot. The Hurricanes trail the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Nashville Predators trail the Arizona Coyotes. Why does that matter? Because both teams are going to be going into this game desperate to walk away with two points.
Both hockey clubs have twenty-four games remaining, including this one, in the season. That’s a potential forty-eight points for both clubs, that absolutely need them. The Hurricanes only tabbed a point against Edmonton, in a game that they dead-to-rights should have won.