Game Preview: Wild versus Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes return home for a two-game series at the Lenovo Center, hosting the Minnesota Wild and the Buffalo Sabres after a road trip in the northeast.
Recent Hurricanes Performance
On Tuesday, Carolina secured a strong victory against the struggling New York Rangers. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal as a Hurricane on the power play. The Canes controlled the game in the second and third periods, limiting the Rangers to a single shot in the final period. Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves for a shutout in his season debut, despite Carolina's depleted defense.
Focus on Minnesota Wild
The Wild, initially considered a bubble playoff team, have had a tough start. Following a promising beginning with two wins in their first three games, Minnesota managed only one win in their last nine games through October. However, they snapped a five-game losing streak on November 1, then defeated Nashville in overtime on Tuesday.
Power Play Strength
Led by Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota's power play ranks third in the NHL, converting on 31.5% of opportunities. Kaprizov is tied for ninth in league scoring with eight goals and 10 assists, ranking second in power play goals (5) and points (9).
- Matt Boldy
- Marco Rossi
- Marcus Johansson
These teammates also have double-digit points this season, contributing significantly to Minnesota’s offense.
"Pyotr Kochetkov had a 26-save shutout in his season debut behind another game with a depleted Carolina defense."
"Led by Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild have the third-best power play in the NHL, converting on 31.5 percent of their opportunities."
Author's summary: The Hurricanes look to build on recent success at home while facing a Minnesota Wild squad fueled by a powerful offense led by Kirill Kaprizov and a top-ranked power play.