Carolina Hurricanes vs. Boston Bruins: Game Preview and Storm Advisory

The red-hot Hurricanes take on the similarly surging Boston Bruins, who are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games as the team dons the Whalers green for the final time this season.

Game Notes

• Tonight’s matchup is the third and final between the Hurricanes and Bruins this season. Boston took the first matchup in PNC Arena on October 30th while the Hurricanes won the first Whalers night on December 23rd. Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen both earned four point games in the memorable win.
• Why wear the Whalers threads on the road? For the first two seasons of the New England Whalers’ existence in the WHA, they played their home games at the original Boston Garden. The team moved to Hartford in 1975 and joined the NHL four years later, at which point the Bruins became the Whalers’ chief rival.
• After posting an incredible 4-3 OT win against Florida, the Canes improved to 21-6-1 for 43 points over their last 23 games. That’s the best in the NHL since 12/31. The team ranks first in the NHL in goals scored over the frame and have posted a shooting percentage of 11.9%.
• Sebastian Aho scored the overtime game-wining goal in Florida, becoming the first player in franchise history to score the game winning goal in three consecutive games.
• Dougie Hamilton has recorded 18 points (9g, 9a) in his last 27 games after recording just 10 points (3g, 3a) in his first 38 games this season.
• Speaking of Dougie, he prepared to take on the Bruins by assigning himself a nice new number:

• And here’s the backstory on that number reassignment. [Yahoo]

Strom Advisory

• Former Hurricane Lee Stempniak signed with the Bruins prior to the trade deadline and is seeing game action with the team’s AHL affiliate. [Boston Herald]
• Red Wings great Ted Lindsay, who won four Stanley Cups while playing on one of the greatest lines in NHL history with Gordie Howe and Sid Abel, and later was the driving force behind the formation of the NHLPA, passed away yesterday. He was 93. Tributes to the man known as “Terrible Ted” have poured in from around the hockey world. [The Athletic] [The Hockey News] [Detroit Free Press] [NHL.com] [More from NHL.com]
• Here’s ten rule tweaks up for debate at the NHL GM’s meeting. [TSN]
• The NHL put out a strength of schedule list for the remainder of the season based on opponent’s point percentage. Check out where the Canes sit in the ranking. [NHL]
• Luke DeCock explores how the Canes’ Storm Surge routines go from idea to ice. [N&O]
• Remember yesterday when we congratulated NC State's club hockey team on advancing to the national finals? Well...club hockey teams generally are self-funded, and they don’t normally include in their budget the cost of flying halfway across the country for tournaments. Can you help them get to Texas for the finals?

Stalking the Standings

It was quiet in the NHL last night. The only game that affected the Canes playoff race was a Sabres loss to Edmonton. There’s four games to keep your eye on tonight around the league as the Canes take on one of the best in the league in Boston.

• Metro 1: New York Islanders: 64 GP, 81 points, 104 pt pace, 34 ROW
• Metro 2: Washington Capitals: 65 GP, 81 points, 102 pt pace, 34 ROW
• Metro 3: Carolina Hurricanes: 65 GP, 78 points, 98 pt pace, 35 ROW
• WC 1: Pittsburgh Penguins: 65 GP, 77 points, 97 pt pace, 33 ROW
• WC 2: Montreal Canadiens: 66 GP, 77 points, 96 pt pace, 33 ROW
• 9th: Columbus Blue Jackets: 64 GP, 75 points, 96 pt pace, 36 ROW
• 10th: Philadelphia Flyers: 65 GP, 70 points, 88 pt pace, 29 ROW

Rooting Guide

• Senators over Islanders
• Devils over Blue Jackets
• Panthers over Penguins
• Kings over Canadiens