:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57287629/2017_09_20_608_XL.0.jpg)
The 150th NC State Fair has come to an end, which means the Carolina Hurricanes return home to PNC Arena to play hockey. The guests of honor at their welcome party home are the extremely hot Tampa Bay Lightning who enter this contest with the most points in the NHL (15). With a 7-1-1 record, the Lightning will be on a mission to spoil the Hurricanes homecoming. On the other hand, Carolina can make a bold statement if they can find a way to win.
Here’s how the teams enter tonight:
Vital Statistics
| Category | Hurricanes | Bruins |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Hurricanes | Bruins |
| Record | 8-6 | 11-5 |
| Goals/Game | 2.79 | 3.31 |
| Goals Against/Game | 2.71 | 2.06 |
| Shots/Game | 30.9 | 34.3 |
| Faceoff % | 49.1% | 53.3% |
| Power Play % (Rank) | 10.0% (14) | 31.9% (1) |
| Penalty Kill % (Rank) | 70.8% (14) | 85.7% (4) |
| ES Corsi For % | 55.61% | 51.66% |
| ES PDO | 101.2% | 101.0 |
| PIM/Game | 8:38 | 6:30 |
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 | Curtis McElhinney | Jaroslav Halak |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Curtis McElhinney | Jaroslav Halak |
| Record | 3-1 | 0-0 |
| Save % | .943 | N/A |
| GAA | 1.70 | N/A |
Game Notes
- Elias Lindholm will play in his 300th career NHL game tonight, all with the Hurricanes. He is also just one assist shy of 100 assists.
- Carolina has plenty of playing ties with the Lightning as Victor Rask, Elias Lindholm, Marcus Kruger, and Joakim Nordstrom all played with Bolts defenesman Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman at the 2017 IIHF world championships. Meanwhile, Justin Faulk and J.T. Brown both played together at Minnesota-Duluth.
- Steven Stamkos leads the league in points with 18 while Nikita Kucherov leads the NHL in goals scored with 10.
- Both teams have workhorses on defense at Victor Hedman ranks 11th in the NHL in average time played (25:18) while Jaccob Slavin ranks 18th (24:30).
- Scott Darling is 12-4-1 with a 2.82 career goal-against average when facing teams in the Atlantic division.
- Tonight is the first of three match ups with the Lightning this season.
Storm Advisory
- The Canes announced yesterday an expansion of the True Defenders program. Introduced last season, the program affords active and retired members of the military a VIP game night experience. Along with suite tickets, participants receive VIP parking, complimentary buffet and beverages inside the suite, and a meet-and-greet with Justin Faulk and Noah Hanifin after each game. This season, True Defenders will also receive a snapback hat and long-sleeved shirt, both outfitted with a new True Defenders logo personally designed by Hurricanes co-captain Justin Faulk. The first True Defenders game this season is Friday against the Blues. [Hurricanes]
- Canes Cast with Mike and Mike on the Hurricanes website returned this week and features a very special guest appearance from Jeff Skinner. [Hurricanes]
- Former Hurricane Patrick Eaves is in stable condition after being hospitalized with what is suspected to be Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. [NHL]
- The Vegas Golden Knights are losing goalies left and right to injuries, should they take a chance on recently waived Antti Niemi? [Knights on Ice]
- #Smashville has existed for a while now but it truly gained relevance by national media last year during the Predators Stanley Cup Final run. Now the numbers show no other franchise provides its fans with more value than the Preds. [ESPN]
- The Hurricanes face off against Steven Stamkos tonight and Stamkos is really streaking. But history shows this is no new thing for him. [Raw Charge]