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Carolina Hurricanes vs. Colorado Avalanche: Game Preview and Storm Advisory

The Hurricanes look to finish off a very impressive road trip in in the Mile High City tonight.

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Carolina Hurricanes v Colorado Avalanche Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images

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.
  • 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.
  • 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]