:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63250001/2019_01_11_446_X3.0.jpg)
The Hurricanes will try to take advantage of a struggling Buffalo Sabres team tonight in Jeff Skinner’s second return to PNC Arena. After a flat shutout loss last night at the hands of Sergei Bobrovsky, the Canes desperately need a win to keep up in the playoff race.
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 |
Game Notes
- Tonight’s game is the last one between the Sabres and Canes this year. The Hurricanes have already won the season series with a 2-0-0 record to date.
- The Canes have picked up points in eight consecutive games against the Sabres — their longest active streak against any opponent in the NHL.
- The Canes took the first meeting of the season in PNC Arena on January 11th by a score of 4-3. The Canes took down the Sabres again on February 7th in a 6-5 overtime win.
- Sebastian Aho has registered 10 points (5g, 5a) against Buffalo in eight career games, and Dougie Hamilton has posted 14 points (7g, 7a) in 20 games against the Sabres.
- The Canes remain in the WC1 spot after a regulation loss last night in Columbus. They’re four points behind the Penguins and tied with the Blue Jackets, with a game in hand on both teams.
Lines and Rosters
The Hurricanes generated a ton of shots last night but ultimately couldn’t solve Sergei Bobrovsky. They came out of the gate a little slow, but otherwise played a solid high pressure game. We can expect a similar lineup tonight with a change in net as Curtis McElhinney will get his first start in a week.
Nino Niederreiter - Sebastian Aho - Justin Williams
Andrei Svechnikov - Jordan Staal - Teuvo Teravainen
Micheal Ferland - Lucas Wallmark - Jordan Martinook
Warren Foegele - Greg McKegg - Brock McGinn
Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Brett Pesce - Justin Faulk
Haydn Fleury - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Curtis McElhinney
Petr Mrazek
Scratches: Calvin de Haan (upper body), Saku Maenalanen (healthy)
After being shutout by the Penguins on Thursday, the Sabres have lost six straight games and three straight in regulation. They have completely fallen out of the playoff race and now eye the draft lottery sweepstakes as they try to build some scoring depth in the offseason. Here’s how you can expect them to lineup in Jeff Skinner’s second return to Raleigh.
Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart
Conor Sheary - Evan Rodrigues - Alex Nylander
Tage Thompson - Casey Mittelstadt - Jason Pominville
Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo
Matt Hunwick - Rasmus Ristolainen
Brandon Montour - Zach Bogosian
Rasmus Dahlin - Casey Nelson
Linus Ullmark
Carter Hutton