:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63161649/usa_today_12207906.0.jpg)
The Hurricanes will try to pick up two more points and their fifth straight win tonight as they take on the Florida Panthers. The team is coming off of an electric 5-2 win at PNC Arena last night against the St. Louis Blues.
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 game is the third and final between the two teams this season. The Canes are 2-0-0 this season against Florida , and 6-1-1 in their last eight matchups.
- After a 5-2 win last night against St. Louis, the Canes are 20-6-1 over their last 27 games. That’s the most wins and points by any NHL team since Dec. 31.
- The win last night elevated them into the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins, Canadiens, and Blue Jackets are all in action today, so tonight’s game in Florida is of course a big one.
- Forward Mike Hoffman has tallied 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) over his last 14 games. Aleksander Barkov (27 goals, 40 assists) was named the NHL’s “Second Star of the Week” last Monday. Entering tonight’s matchup, the Panthers hold the second-best power play in the NHL at 26.7 percent.
Lines and Rosters
Hurricanes
With the travel and the back-to-back situation, the Canes did not hold a morning skate today. There’s been no news on Calvin de Haan, who remains day-to-day with an upper body injury, though he was around the locker room yesterday in street clothes. After a convincing win last night we can expect the Canes to line up similarly to last night, though Lucas Wallmark may return to give another forward a chance to rest, and given the proclivity to rotate goaltenders, Petr Mrazek may be back in net.
Update 5:00 pm: Below is the expected lineup for Rod Brind’Amour. Mrazek gets the start; Wallmark will draw back in up front and Foegele will be the healthy extra.
Nino Niederreiter - Sebastian Aho - Justin Williams
Micheal Ferland - Jordan Staal - Teuvo Teravainen
Andrei Svechnikov - Jordan Martinook - Brock McGinn
Greg McKegg - Lucas Wallmark - Saku Maenalanen
Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Brett Pesce - Justin Faulk
Haydn Fleury - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Curtis McElhinney
Petr Mrazek
Injuries and Scratches: Calvin de Haan (upper body), Warren Foegele (healthy)
Panthers
The Panthers are coming off of two straight shootout losses out west over the past week and are suiting up without the injured James Reimer. Head Coach Bob Boughner said tonight’s netminder would be a game time decision, so there’s a chance Samuel Montembleault could make his NHL debut tonight (if so, prepare for the #shutout).
Here’s how we can expect to see them line up tonight.
Jonathan Huberdeau - Aleksander Barkov - Mike Hoffman
Jayce Hawryluk - Vincent Trocheck - Evgenii Dadonov
Frank Vatrano - Riley Sheahan - Troy Brouwer
Jamie McGinn - Henrik Borgstrom - Dryden Hunt
Micheal Matheson - Aaron Ekblad
Keith Yandle - Mark Pysyk
Ian McCoshen - Josh Bron
Roberto Luongo
Samuel Montembleault
Injuries and Scratches: Derek MacKenzie (IR shoulder), Denis Malgin (lower body), James Reimer (lower body), Colton Sceviour (IR upper body), Mackenzie Weegar (lower body)