Saros will protect the road net in Sunday's preseason contest against Tampa Bay.
Kochetkov is expected to start Sunday's preseason game against the Panthers, per Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site.
General manager Eric Tulsky announced Wednesday that Nikishin isn't currently under contract with the Hurricanes and won't be present for the start of camp Thursday.
Reilly signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes on Thursday.
Robidas signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes on Wednesday.
Primeau signed a two-year, $1.825 million contract with the Hurricanes on Wednesday.
Brind'Amour signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes on Wednesday.
Neuchev signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes on Thursday, per agent Dan Milstein.
Barron signed a one-year, $1.575 million contract with Nashville on Monday.
Sawchenko signed a one-year, two-way contract with Carolina on Saturday.
There's no doubt it's a different Preds team lately, with more goals flying into the net and the over suddenly in focus. Clearing a number like 5.5 goals tonight looks well within Nashville's boundaries these days considering Pred scorelines have exceeded 5.5 in ten of the last eleven games. It's also overs in five straight, with Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg both having erupted within the past week, suggesting the higher-scoring might be here to stay for awhile. The most-recent meeting between these two ended 6-3 in Carolina's favor on December 6, and can envision a similar goal haul tonight in Music City. The Canes have scored at least three goals (with three shootouts, it must be added) their last four games. Play Canes-Preds Over
The past few weeks, only the powerhouse Avs have really slowed down the Preds, and even so, Nashville won last Tuesday over Colorado in OT at Bridgestone Arena before Nathan MacKinnon & Co reversed the result on Saturday in Denver. For the Preds, it's wins in seven of ten, a turnaround of significant proportions after languishing the first month-and-a-half of the season. The offense has come alive, scoring 18 times in the recent four-game span, with Filip Forsberg back in rhythm after his hat-trick in Monday's win over the Blues. The Canes enter Bridgestone Arena having won four straight but they are flying awfully close to the flame, with the last three of those requiring shootouts. Play Preds on Money Line
For -160 this is a pretty reasonable price simply as Nashville really has turned its season around and has the major carrot inching one game of reaching .500 for the first time since before Halloween. Better health has certainly helped, and Juuse Saros 6. Saros 5-1-0 with a 2.53 GAA and a .920 save percentage this month. Carolina is certainly the better team but has played three straight past regulation and that's all we care about. The Canes also could be looking ahead a bit to Friday's trip to Florida in the first meeting with the champs since the Panthers beat Carolina in the 2025 East Finals.
