Continuing with this week’s fast pace, the Hurricanes are right back on the horse for preseason action tonight in Tampa. The lineup changes obviously with more than 50 players still in tow.

Here are a few quick thoughts on ‘what I’m watching’ for Tuesday’s game:

The lineup

Per Michael Smith from CarolinaHurricanes.com, here are the expected lines and defense combinations at least to start with Alex Nedeljkovic slated to start and Callum Booth to finish in net.

What I’m Watching

1) Battle for the last spot on defense

Per the best interpretation I can do from a radio broadcast, Haydn Fleury seemed to hold up his end of the deal in Monday’s win. Tuesday’s lineup features Klas Dahlbeck who I would currently slot as #7 on the defense depth chart, Trevor Carrick and Roland McKeown who would probably be #8 and #9 and Philip Samuelsson, Brenden Kichton and Jake Chelios who are all considered AHL defensemen, but who will want to use the opportunity on Tuesday to stake their own claim for being capable NHL depth in the event of an injury.

My recap from Sunday’s second practice noticed a snarly and physical demeanor from McKeown. I will be watching to see if he brings that same fire in his belly on Tuesday.

2) Teravainen/Rask/Williams

I really like this line conceptually. Rask and Williams are not the flashiest but they are both sound, steady and offensively capable. Can the group find chemistry? Can Teravainen provide playmaking that boosts Rask and Williams’ scoring? Can a veteran like Williams help Teravainen find his ceiling on a more regular basis instead of the impressive but only intermittent bursts of scoring that Teravainen had in 2016-17? Tuesday represents the first chance to evaluate the trio, and I will be watching closely to see how they work together.

3) Brock McGinn in the slot open for him

After playing on Monday and netting only a double minor for high sticking on Monday, McGinn gets another chance on Tuesday, and it is in a great slot. He will play next to Joakim Nordstrom and Marcus Kruger who have a high probability of being two-thirds of the fourth line. If McGinn looks good with them tonight, his chances of playing on opening night increase.

4) The fun kids

All the talk prospect-wise has been centered around Martin Necas ongoing rise. On Tuesday, Warren Foegele, Janne Kuokkanen and Julien Gauthier will play together and get their chance to stake a claim to their share of ‘the future is bright’ consideration.

The puck drops at 7:30pm. Someone holler if he/she knows otherwise, but it looks like radio only again.

Go Canes!