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The Winnipeg Jets and Carolina Hurricanes play Sunday in Raleigh, N.C., but there could be a certain amount of interest from fans of the Nashville Predators.

Two former Nashville players could suit up on opposite sides following deals Friday at the trade deadline.

The Jets added defenseman Luke Schenn from Nashville and forward Brandon Tanev from the Seattle Kraken.

The Hurricanes had been consumed by the trade deadline, with one of Friday’s deals sending Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars in turn for center Logan Stankoven and four draft picks. The Hurricanes also acquired forward Mark Jankowski from Nashville.

“It would be nice to just put it behind us here,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said of the trade deadline saga that had involved Rantanen, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in late January but didn’t pan out.

For the Jets and Hurricanes, they’re already in good shape. Winnipeg has a league-best 92 points, while the Hurricanes are second in the Metropolitan Division, tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference with 78 points entering Saturday.

The Jets certainly weren’t looking for an overhaul. They’ve won 13 of their last 16 games, with the defeats all coming by one-goal margins (with one of those in a shootout).

Friday night’s 6-1 romp past the host New Jersey Devils should be evidence that the Jets are focused in the right direction.

Tanev has returned to the Jets, and he’s happy about it. He made it to New Jersey in time to play more than 11 minutes on Friday.

“It’s all smiles coming back to the place where I started my career to a great team and a great group of guys,” Tanev said.

Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said Tanev should fit in well.

“I knew he had some quickness to him,” Arniel said. “But you really notice it when he’s on your side.”

The Hurricanes will aim for their second four-game winning streak since an eight-game stretch from late October to early November. The most recent four-game string came in January.

The Hurricanes dropped a 3-0 decision Feb. 4 at Winnipeg.

“We played them not too long ago,” Brind’Amour said. “It was a good game. But we didn’t find a way to get enough action and goals. They’re one of the best, if not the best, right now. It will be a big challenge.”

Unlike last month’s meeting, the Hurricanes should have Frederik Andersen in goal based on the rotation the team has used since mid-January.

Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns turns 40 on Sunday. He scored his fifth goal of the season in Thursday’s 3-2 win against Boston and has played in all 63 games this season.

“He’s still going,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s going to be 40. He doesn’t look like it. He takes care of himself.”

While Burns can be expected to be in the lineup, there are other questions about the Hurricanes’ blueliners.

Dmitry Orlov was a pregame scratch Thursday, sitting out for the first time in his two seasons with the Hurricanes.

“He had a little tweak and didn’t feel great,” Brind’Amour said.

Then in the first period, Riley Stillman was done for the night just 18 seconds into his only shift. He was inadvertently kicked in the head by Boston’s John Beecher.

That left sorting out to do for defensive pairings, leading to the chance that there might be more on Sunday.

–Field Level Media