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The Hurricanes take on the Capitals in PNC for the second time in less than a week, as they continue their quest to catch up with the top teams in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes are tied for sixth in the NHL in points percentage, but still find themselves in a Wild Card spot.
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 Capitals are meeting for the third time this season. The Canes will close out the season series with a visit to Capital One Arena on January 13th. The Canes lead the season series by a record of 2-0-0 in 2019-2020. The Capitals have picked up one point in the two games, a Hurricanes overtime win in the second game of the season.
- The Canes picked up a 6-4 win last Saturday against the division rival in PNC Arena. Capitals Public Enemy No. 1 Warren Foegele posted three points (2g, 1a) including a shorthanded goal, while Ryan Dzingel tallied two assists.
- Sebastian Aho is historically hot against Washington, picking up 17 points (8g, 9a) in 14 career games against the Caps.
- The Hurricanes closed out a solid calendar year with a win over Montreal on New Year’s Eve. During the year, the Canes compiled a record of 54-26-4 for 112 points, which marked the second-most wins and tied for the third-most points recorded by an NHL team in 2019 — also setting a franchise record for both wins and points in a full calendar year.
- The Hurricanes will be facing Ilya Samsonov in goal tonight — a decision made in advance by Capitals Head Coach Todd Reirden.
Ilya Samsonov will start in net for Capitals at Carolina tomorrow.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 2, 2020
Reirden said decided it last week. Wants to give Hurricanes different look and doesn’t want Samsonov sitting too long. Likes him to get at least a game a week.
Storm Advisory
- The Hurricanes welcomed service puppies in training into the locker room yesterday, and the results were predictably adorable.
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen hockey players cooling down after practice in the company of service dogs in training pic.twitter.com/BXFXJjOucX
— Brian LeBlanc (@bdleblanc) January 2, 2020
TVR fully recognizes that he is not the marquee attraction of this picture pic.twitter.com/HIlcHVWYe4
— Brian LeBlanc (@bdleblanc) January 2, 2020
Special guest puppies that joined the #Canes after practice were from @paws4people based out of Wilmington, NC.
— Jon Chase (@JChasesthoughts) January 2, 2020
Here is their story, information about their programs, & ways to donate: https://t.co/IQXNl9oHat https://t.co/Ac8rXFHsUd
- This is pretty incredible.
Here is my consolation picture for missing the NYE game last night. For my @Canes family, you were all with me on that climb! I'll see you on Friday when we play the caps. pic.twitter.com/EcYLZgpyYc
— Justin H. (@drunkcanesfan) January 1, 2020
- A few trades went down yesterday, all part of maneuvering required for the Sabres to add a forward.
The #Sens have acquired defenceman Mike Reilly from Montreal for a fifth-round pick in 2021 and forward Andrew Sturtz.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) January 2, 2020
The Canadiens have acquired defenseman Marco Scandella from the Buffalo Sabres, in return for a fourth-round pick in 2020 (acquired from the San Jose Sharks on June 22, 2019).#GoHabsGo https://t.co/uJEKDoyayl
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 2, 2020
We have acquired forward Michael Frolik from the @NHLFlames in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 Draft (originally owned by the @SanJoseSharks).
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 2, 2020
Details: https://t.co/iJuVJW9RmM pic.twitter.com/DgVAVwrcnw
- Justin Bieber apparently accepted a challenge from Jordan Binnington for a head-to-head shootout. [CBS Sports]