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Hurricanes vs. Blue Jackets: Preview, Game Notes, Statistics, How to Watch

The league-leading Blue Jackets (?!?!) make their first trip to Edwards Mill Road tonight.

By Andrew Ahr

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 - 7:00 pm ET

PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC

FOX Sports Carolinas | 99.9 The Fan | WRALSportsFan app

SB Nation Rival Blog: The Cannon

Vital Statistics

Category Hurricanes Blue Jackets
Category Hurricanes Blue Jackets
Record 21-15-7 29-9-4
Points 49 62
Division Rank 6 Metro 2 Metro
Conference Rank 9 EC 2 EC
Last 10 Games 6-4-0 6-4-0
Streak Won Loss 1
Goals/Game 2.77 3.31
Goals Against/Game 2.63 2.24
Shots/Game 30.6 30.3
Shots Against/Game 27.6 29.8
Faceoff % 51.7% 47.7%
Power Play % (Rank) 17.2% (18) 26.0% (1)
Penalty Kill % (Rank) 88.7% (1) 83.0% (10)
ES Corsi For % 52.1% 55.1%
ES PDO 99.4 101.3
PIM/Game 05:95 08:93

Goaltender #1

Category Petr Mrazek Tuukka Rask
Category Petr Mrazek Tuukka Rask
Record 5-5 11-5
Save % .894 .939
GAA 2.73 1.96

Goaltender #2

Category Alex Nedeljkovic Anton Forsberg
Category Alex Nedeljkovic Anton Forsberg
Record 0-0-0 0-1-0
ES Save % .000 .852
GAA 0.00 4.10

Game Notes

  • Tonight marks the first of four meetings between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Three of those four will be in the next 11 days.
  • After an overtime win against Boston on Sunday, the Hurricanes have improved their home record to 12-4-1 this season. Their next three games will be at home, all against Eastern Conference opponents.
  • Columbus shook up their goalie situation yesterday, recalling goalie Anton Forsberg from their Cleveland AHL affiliate and reassigning left wing Marcus Hannikainen. They also placed backup goalie Curtis McElhinney on waivers. Expect to see the dominant Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes tonight.
  • The Blue Jackets recently ended an incredible 16 game win streak with a decisive 5-0 loss in the nation’s capital. The Blue Jackets are showing signs of fatigue, allowing 11 goals in their last 3 games. The Hurricanes will need to take advantage of a tired team tonight.
  • Rookie Sebastian Aho had his second multi-goal game of his young NHL career on Sunday. Aho scored a goal early in the second as well as the game winner in overtime, earning himself first star of the game honors. The Finnish forward has 10 goals and 13 assists for a total of 23 points in what is shaping up as an impressive rookie campaign.
  • The Hurricanes sit 5 points out of the WC2 spot currently occupied by the Flyers with two games in hand over the Metropolitan Division foe. Both the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs sit between Carolina and Philadelphia.
  • Cam Ward is expected to make his 17th straight start tonight. The veteran backstop hasn’t seen a longer streak in net since the 2010-2011 season.
  • News broke today that the NHL will not be allowing any alternate jerseys next season as a result of the uniform contract moving from Reebok to Adidas. This is particularly bad news for the Hurricanes, who are an incredible 61-34-9 all time in the black alternates. Is it time to consider a change to the home colors? Some Canes players might say yes.