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Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals: Game Preview and Storm Advisory

The Hurricanes come off of an electrifying win on opening night to take on the rival Washington Capitals.

By Andrew Ahr
Carolina Hurricanes v Washington Capitals - Game Seven Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Carolina Hurricanes (20-7-3) at Columbus Blue Jackets (13-12-7)

2021 Regular Season Game 31
Monday, March 22, 2021 - 7:00 p.m. ET

Nationwide Arena - Columbus, Ohio

Watch: Fox Sports Carolinas
Listen: 99.9 The Fan

SBN Opposition: Jackets Cannon

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The Hurricanes face off tonight against a very familiar Capitals team in Washington. The Hurricanes will look to build on a shootout win against the Canadiens on opening night as they take on the unbeaten Caps in Washington’s home opener.

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 Hurricanes and Capitals met in the first round of the 2018-19 playoffs, and the Hurricanes took the series in double overtime of game seven. There is quite a bit of animosity between the two sides, so tonight should be a good matchup to watch.
  • Tonight’s game is the first of four matchups this season. The teams will meet three more times in the next three months.
  • There are no shortage of subplots tonight: T.J. Oshie faces Warren Foegele for the first time since a Foegele check broke Oshie’s collarbone last year, Tom Wilson vs. everyone, and of course Todd Reirden continuing to register objections to anything and everything through the media (while claiming he’s doing nothing of the sort).
  • Sebastian Aho has been hot against the Capitals in his career, potting 17 points (8g, 9a), and has tallied at least a point in 10 of the 12 regular season games played against Washington.
  • Dougie Hamilton has gotten out to a hot start this season, tallying two assists and the game winning shootout goal on Thursday night against the Canadiens. Hamilton seems to be embracing his larger role this season in the absence of Justin Faulk.
  • Lucas Wallmark kicked off the scoring on Thursday night as he recorded the third game opening goal of his career. The Hurricanes have been very fortunate when Wallmark gets on the scoresheet — they’re 8-1-0 when he scores a goal and 17-5-1 when he picks up a point.

Storm Advisory

  • Today is a day that ends in Y, so Todd Reirden is playing the hits yet again. We are quickly approaching doth-protest-too-much territory. [NBCS Washington]
  • The Blues have signed forward Brayden Schenn to an 8-year contract extension. [NHL]
  • The Hurricanes debuted a pretty awesome light show on Thursday night.
  • Defenseman Roland McKeown has been named the new captain of the Charlotte Checkers. [Checkers]
  • The Fleurys got a pretty sweet picture on Thursday night.