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The Hurricanes take on the Penguins, who occupy the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, tonight in Raleigh. A Hurricanes win in regulation could narrow the gap between the two teams to just one point.
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 |
Goaltender #2
| Category | Curtis McElhinney | Jaroslav Halak |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Curtis McElhinney | Jaroslav Halak |
| Record | 3-1 | 0-0 |
| Save % | .943 | N/A |
| GAA | 1.70 | N/A |
Game Notes
- Tonight’s matchup is perhaps the biggest game of the season thus far. A win in the crucial four point game would pull the Canes to a point behind the Penguins with two games in hand.
- The game tonight is the third of four between the two teams this season. The two teams have split the two games this season, and will meet a final time on March 31st.
- The Penguins will play tonight without star center Evgeni Malkin. He was injured this weekend and will be out week-to-week with an upper body injury.
- Calvin de Haan, who took a stick in the eye last week in Colorado in what could have been a very serious injury, skated with the team for the first time yesterday. He is unlikely to play tonight, but he’s very fortunate to be back on the ice so soon at all based on this:
De Haan just said after he took the stick to the eye he was poking around his eye socket making sure his eyeball is still in place because he didn’t want it dangling around and he couldn’t see a thing
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) March 18, 2019
- After a win on Sunday against Buffalo, the Canes are 24-8-2 in their last 34 games — the second most wins and points in the NHL in that frame. Seven out of their remaining 11 games are in PNC Arena.
Storm Advisory
- Alison Murdock went from Lightning Fantasy Camp player to the only female full time Zamboni driver in the NHL. Here’s how she did it. [ESPN]
- Yesterday was team photo day at PNC Arena.
Lots of smiles at today's team photo shoot pic.twitter.com/BjFTf9xJg9
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) March 18, 2019
- And a couple members of the leadership group paid homage to their coach during the event.
Sneaky, sneaky @JustinWilliams @JustinFaulk27 pic.twitter.com/84ZW1Ui0ra
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) March 18, 2019
- Torts was interested in hearing John Forslund’s opinion on the Storm Surge a few weeks ago.
Forslund, on the @NHLCanes' on-ice celebrations: I hear about it everywhere. I did a national game in Columbus a couple weeks ago, and John Tortorella grabbed me after his presser to ask what I "really" thought of it all. He said, "I absolutely hate it, but then again I love it."
— David Glenn Show (@DavidGlennShow) March 18, 2019
- And here’s his spot on the David Glenn Show (airs at the beginning of the hour). [DG Show]
- Hurricanes’ prospect Aleksi Saarela was given a two-game suspension by the AHL yesterday. [Checkers]
- Carolina’s top defensive prospect Adam Fox was awarded All-ECAC Hockey First Team honors after an incredible season at Harvard. [GoCrimson]
Stalking the Standings
Most of the direct competition is in action tonight. The most important game is of course the one on Edwards Mill Road, but it’d be nice to get some help from former Hurricanes coach Bill Peters and his dominant Flames tonight in Alberta.
Metro 1: New York Islanders: 72 GP, 91 points, 104 pt pace, 38 ROW
Metro 2: Washington Capitals: 72 GP, 91 points, 104 pt pace, 38 ROW
Metro 3: Pittsburgh Penguins: 73 GP, 88 points, 99 pt pace, 38 ROW
WC 1: Carolina Hurricanes: 71 GP, 85 points, 98 pt pace, 38 ROW
WC 2: Columbus Blue Jackets: 72 GP, 84 points, 96 pt pace, 39 ROW
9th: Montreal Canadiens: 72 GP, 81 points, 92 pt pace, 35 ROW
10th: Philadelphia Flyers: 72 GP, 78 points, 89 pt pace, 33 ROW
Tonight’s Rooting Guide