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The Hurricanes premiere the 2019-20 #CanesAfterDark series tonight, looking to take advantage of a Kings team that has struggled out of the gate as they play their first of a three game road trip. The Canes will play again in San Jose tomorrow night, so we will almost certainly see both goaltenders over the next two nights.
Vital Statistics
| Category | Hurricanes | Blue Jackets |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Hurricanes | Blue Jackets |
| Record | 21-7-3 | 13-13-7 |
| Goals/Game | 3.23 | 2.54 |
| Goals Against/Game | 2.48 | 3.12 |
| Shots/Game | 31.52 | 28.70 |
| Face Off Win % | 54.4% | 46.2% |
| Power Play % (Rank) | 30.6% (1st) | 14.8% (26th) |
| Penalty Kill % (Rank) | 82.9% (9th) | 74.0% (26th) |
| ES Corsi For % | 53.04% | 46.16% |
| ES PDO | 100.96 | 99.42 |
| PIM/Game | 07:21 | 06:43 |
Goaltender #1
| Category | James Reimer | Joonas Korpisalo |
|---|---|---|
| Category | James Reimer | Joonas Korpisalo |
| Record | 12-4-1 | 8-10-5 |
| Save % | 0.909 | .900 |
| GAA | 2.68 | 2.98 |
Goaltender #2
| Category | Alex Nedeljkovic | Elvis Merzlikins |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Alex Nedeljkovic | Elvis Merzlikins |
| Record | 7-2-2 | 5-3-2 |
| Save % | .930 | .912 |
| GAA | 1.96 | 2.91 |
Game Notes
- The Canes and Kings are meeting for the first of two matchups this season. The Kings will be in Raleigh on January 11th, when the Hurricanes will be wearing the Hartford Whalers Uniforms.
- The two teams split the season series last year, with both teams picking up wins on home ice.
- Jordan Staal and Teuvo Teravainen have been hot in their careers against the Kings. Staal has posted 9 points (4g, 5a) in 15 career games against Los Angeles, while Teravainen has picked up 10 points (2g, 8a) in 11 career games.
- The Hurricanes’ 5-1-0 start matches the best six game start in franchise history. The Whalers also went 5-1-0 in their first six in 1996-97.
- Speaking of Staal, the captain will play in his 900th career NHL game tonight. He will become just the third member of the 2006 draft class to reach that mark, behind Phil Kessel and Nicklas Backstrom.
- Dougie Hamilton extended his goal/ point streak to four games with a goal against Columbus on Saturday night. He leads all NHL defensemen in goals this season.