:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66357127/1196365583.jpg.0.jpg)
The Hurricanes will play their first back-to-back in over a month Saturday, as Carolina heads into Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs.
The Canes are coming off a rough 5-2 home loss to the New York Rangers Friday night, but will get to move on quickly. With Petr Mrazek playing in net for the Canes Friday night, it looks like James Reimer may get the start against his former team. The last time the Canes and Maple Leafs met was a wild one that featured 14 goals and an 8-6 Hurricanes win.
On the other side of the ice, Toronto is coming off a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh Thursday night. Before the home win over the Penguins, the Maple Leafs had lost three of their previous four.
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
- This is the second of three meetings between the Canes and Maple Leafs this season. Carolina is 1-0 so far against Toronto.
- So far this year, the Hurricanes are 5-4 in the second game of a back-to-back.
- The Hurricanes have played 60 games this season. With 72 points in the standings, this is the second-best 60-game start in franchise history.
- The Hurricanes have two guys on major point streaks right now. Sebastian Aho is on an 11-game point streak, the Canes longest of the season, and he can tie his career best point streak of 12 games with a goal or assist Saturday night. He also has the longest active point streak in the NHL.
- The Canes other streaking player is Andrei Svechnikov, who is on a nine-game point streak. This current streak ties Svechnikov’s career long, and he can set a new one tonight with a point.
- Back to Aho, who has 35 goals through the Canes’ first 60 games. That’s the second most through 60 games since Carolina relocated, second only to Eric Staal’s 39 in 2005-06.
Projected Lines
Hurricanes
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teravainen
Warren Foegele - Jordan Staal - Justin Williams
Nino Niederreiter - Erik Haula - Martin Necas
Ryan Dzingel - Lucas Wallmark - Brock McGinn
Jaccob Slavin - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Jake Gardiner - Brett Pesce
Haydn Fleury - Joel Edmundson
James Reimer
Petr Mrazek
Injuries and scratches: Dougie Hamilton (leg), Jordan Martinook (upper body)
Maple Leafs
Zach Hyman - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
William Nylander - John Tavares - Denis Malgin
Pierre Engvall - Alexander Kerfoot - Kasperi Kapanen
Kyle Clifford - Frederick Gauthier - Jason Spezza
Jake Muzzin - Justin Holl
Rasmus Sandin - Tyson Barrie
Travis Dermott - Martin Marincin
Frederik Andersen
Jack Campbell