:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66246719/i_ZhZTNMd_XL.0.jpg)
The Hurricanes face off in St. Louis tonight against the best team in the Western Conference in the first of a weeklong four game road trip out west.
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
- Tonight’s matchup is the first of two between the Hurricanes and Blues this season. The Blues will visit PNC Arena on February 19th.
- The two teams split the season series 1-1-0 last season. The Blues picked up a 4-1 win in St. Louis, while the Canes posted a 5-2 win at PNC Arena.
- Justin Faulk will be playing in his first game against the Hurricanes since he was traded in late September. Faulk amassed 258 points (85 goals, 173 assists) in 559 games played for the Hurricanes. He ranks first in goals and points by a defenseman in franchise history, and ranks 10th in total games played.
- The other NHL piece of the trade, Joel Edmundson, is slated to receive his Stanley Cup ring prior to the game. Edmundson picked up 11 points (2g, 9a) in 64 games last season for the Blues in their historic Stanley Cup winning season.
- Sunday’s shootout win over the Canucks was the Canes’ 30th of the season, which they attained in the 52nd game of the season. It’s the second-fastest the Canes have hit 30 wins, trailing the Cup season of 2005-06 when it took them 44 games.
Storm Advisory
- Here’s more on Faulk’s experience this season as he prepares to take on the Hurricanes for the first time since the trade. [NHL]
- Edmundson’s parents will be in attendance tomorrow night courtesy of the Blues organization.
Nice gesture by Blues GM Doug Armstrong offering to fly Joel Edmundson’s parents, Bob and Lois, to St. Louis from Manitoba for tomorrow night’s game. They’ll get to see their son receive his Stanley Cup ring on the Blues’ dime. Very respectful of a mom/dad who supported the club.
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) February 3, 2020
- Here’s some great Jordan Martinook content for your morning.
Jordan Martinook (@Martyman17) is the ultimate @Canes hype man, so his reactions to @justinflom's magic tricks with Jaccob Slavin (@Jslavin74) shouldn't come as a surprise. pic.twitter.com/SUTExPx3wF
— NHL (@NHL) February 3, 2020
- In the dead of winter, Jake Gardiner didn’t mind asking his teammates to indulge in a deep freeze. [NHL]
- It sounds like Dustin Byfuglien’s time in Winnipeg may be coming to a close.
Hearing #nhljets and Dustin Byfuglien are working toward a mutual contract termination over the next several days, which would end his suspension (and grievance) - and finally give Winnipeg the salary cap clarity needed ahead of #TradeCentre.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 3, 2020
STORY: https://t.co/5KRyWUnplA pic.twitter.com/4P5JFGMheT
- This Week In Gritty: This story just keeps getting weirder... Gritty has been cleared of assault allegations. [SI]
- As the Hurricanes take on the Blues, here’s a reminder of one of the best stories of 2019.