Both the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks will sport slightly different looks for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday.
Naturally, when it comes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s room for guessing regarding whether such plans are performance-based or if injuries factor greatly into decisions.
There’s at least a slight chance the Ducks’ move is based on Randy Carlyle’s whims, as Kevin Bieksa draws in for Shea Theodore. Again, Theodore could be hurting, but Carlyle may also want a veteran presence after the Predators dominated Game 3.
(Whether Bieksa can provide that any longer at this stage of his career is … up to debate.)
The Predators’ tweak might be injury-related, as Harry Zolnierczyk is replaced by P.A. Parenteau. For what it’s worth, many will view that as an upgrade to the Nashville mix, as Parenteau is something of an analytics darling.