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The Hurricanes take on the red hot Avalanche tonight in Denver as they look to wrap up a stellar road trip with their fourth win. The Avalanche picked up a win last night in Chicago, and have won eight out of their last ten matchups.
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 Avalanche are meeting for the first of two matchups this season. The Avs will visit PNC Arena to close out the season series on February 28th.
- The two teams split the season series with a record of 1-1-0 in 2018-19. The Avalanche posted a 3-1 win in Raleigh last October, while the Canes earned a shutout win out west last March.
- The Avalanche were in action last night, taking down the Blackhawks in Chicago by a score of 4-1.
- Petr Mrazek has never lost to the Avalanche in regulation, posting a 3-0-2 record with a .906 save percentage, a 1.06 goals allowed average, and two shutouts in six career appearances against Colorado.
- Sebastian Aho picked up two goals in Winnipeg to reach the 20 goal mark this season. He became the first player in team history since relocation to score at least 20 goals in each of his first four NHL seasons. Aho currently ranks tied for fourth-most goals through a player’s first four NHL seasons in franchise history.
- Aho has picked up 17 goals in his last 22 games, after scoring just three goals in his first 12 during the month of October. His 17 goals since the beginning of November ties him with Jack Eichel for most goals in the NHL in that span.
Storm Advisory
- Eric and Jordan Staal don’t like playing against each other.
“I don’t like playing against Jordan.”
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 18, 2019
“I don’t like playing against you either.”#mnwild forward Eric Staal and brother Jordan (of the @Canes) joined us for a conversation about brotherhood, hockey and playing against each other.#YouAreHere | @michgoldenlight pic.twitter.com/v1EhU6oxIU
- Calgary Flames assistant GM Chris Snow has been diagnosed with ALS [NHL]
- Mackenzie Blackwood has a .948 Save Percentage since the coaching change in New Jersey.
Mackenzie Blackwood now has a .948 SV% since the coaching change. He's also 10-9-4 with a .910 SV% for the season.
— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) December 19, 2019
The Devils are playing at an 85.5-pt pace when Blackwood gets the decision, and a 24.5-pt pace when he does not.
- Referee Tim Peel, out for an extended period with a broken tibia, is planning to retire at the end of the 2020-21 season. [The Athletic]
- Attendance is down in many places across the league, but not in Raleigh, which has posted the biggest percentage increase in attendance by far of any team in the NHL so far this season. [Sports Business Journal]