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The Hurricanes will try to get back on track tonight in their own building as they take on the second-best team in the Western Conference. The Canes are fighting to regain possession of a playoff spot, as they trail both the Islanders and Blue Jackets for the first and second Wild Card spots. Tonight’s matchup is Pride Night in PNC Arena.
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 are playing the Avalanche for the second and final matchup of the season. The Canes picked up a 3-1 come from behind win against the Avalanche at Pepsi Center on December 19th, with goals from Andrei Svechnikov, Jaccob Slavin, and Sebastian Aho. Jordan Martinook tallied two assists.
- At 3.45 goals per games played, the Avalanche are the third highest scoring team in the NHL. They’ve also allowed the fifth-fewest goals against per games played in the league.
- Jake Gardiner has recorded 10 points (2g, 8a) in 12 career games against Colorado.
- Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov remained hot in the loss to Dallas on Tuesday, extending their point streaks to 13 and 11 games, respectively. They become the first pair of teammates to each record a point in the same 11 consecutive games since the 1979-80 season in Hartford.
- Aho’s 13 point streak marks the longest in his career and the longest streak in team history since relocation. He now owns the longest active point streak in the NHL. Aho’s 36 goals are just nine shy of Eric Staal’s single season goal record of 45 in 2005-06.
- Tonight is the Hurricanes’ annual Pride Night, part of the yearlong Hockey Is For Everyone initiative. The Canes are selling special Pride Night ticket packages, which include a game ticket, a Canes Pride Night scarf and a donation to a local LGBTQ+ organization. Also tonight, for every Tito’s vodka cocktail purchased, Tito’s will donate $1 to the LGBT Center of Raleigh.
Storm Advisory
- The EBUG is a feature, not (ahem) a bug, in the NHL. [The Athletic]
- Evgeny Svechnikov will reportedly return to Russia next season to play in the KHL.
Report out of Russia: Evgeny Svechnikov returning to Russia next season to play with AK Bars Kazan. https://t.co/XGBMaBYl6A
— Kyle M. (@KyleWIIM) February 27, 2020
- Heads up cord-cutters: YouTube TV has lost the rights to stream Fox Regional Sports Networks, meaning that they will be dropping Fox Sports Carolinas and the Hurricanes broadcasts.
We purchase rights from Sinclair to distribute content to you. Despite our best efforts, we’ve been unable to reach an agreement with Sinclair. As a result, we will no longer offer FOX Regional Sports Networks, including YES Network, beginning February 29th.
— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 27, 2020
- The Black Girl Hockey Club came to town for tonight’s Pride Night and experienced some hockey in Raleigh.
.@BlackGirlHockey came to Raleigh, and got to see what #Canes hockey is all about pic.twitter.com/GhEEsDvmj3
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 27, 2020
- Need a refresher on recall rules? [Raw Charge]
- Gov. Roy Cooper jumped on Adam and Joe yesterday and talked some Canes hockey. The interview stars at 26:30. [WRAL Sports Fan]