Carolina will hope to come off the holiday break refreshed and ready to go on a run.
What - Game 35 (21-12-1)
When - 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 27
Where - Prudential Center; Raleigh, NC
How to Watch - FanDuel Sports Network South, MSGSN
The Carolina Hurricanes will hope to come out of the holiday break with a win as they take on the Metro division leading New Jersey Devils (23-11-3).
Carolina entered the break with a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators, a game where they looked out of it until the final frame.
The Hurricanes have still struggled with consistent 5v5 play, especially from their top players, and that problem will only make more and more games feel like toss ups as the season progresses.
New Jersey on the other hand is getting very consistent results from its top players. It has a very balanced team this season with goaltending to finally support its high-threat offense.
Two former Canes, Stefan Noesen and Brett Pesce, have also immediately clicked with the Devils, bringing a huge boost to the lineup with them.
Streaks
- Sebastian Aho (4g, 2a) has points in five straight games.
- Jack Roslovic (1g. 1a) has points in back-to-back games.
Milestone Watch
- Rod Brind'Amour is one win away from 300 career wins as an NHL head coach. With 486 games coached, he would become the fastest head coach to that milestone in NHL history (Current record is 496 - Brice Boudreau).
- Jacob Slavin will play in his 700th game as a Hurricane tonight.
- Andrei Svechnikov is one assist shy of 200 career assists.
Game Notes
- Carolina is 1-1-0 against New Jersey this season, having won 4-2 on Oct. 15 at Lenovo Center and lost 4-2 on Nov. 21 at Prudential Center.
Key Matchups
Starting Goalies
- Pyotr Kochetkov: 14-6-0; 0.903 Sv%; 2.43 GAA
- Jacob Markstrom: 18-6-2; 0.912 Sv%; 2.12 GAA
Leading Scorers
- Goals - Martin Necas & Jack Roslovic (14) / Nico Hischier (17)
- Points - Martin Necas (44) / Jesper Bratt & Jack Hughes (45)
Power Play
- Carolina - 26.2% (5th)
- New Jersey - 31.2% (2nd)
Penalty Kill
- Carolina - 85.5% (2nd)
- New Jersey - 82.5% (7th)
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
Jack Roslovic - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - William Carrier
Eric Robinson - Tyson Jost - Jackson Blake
Jaccob Slavin - Brent Burn
Dmitry Orlov - Jalen Chatfield
Shayne Gostisbehere - Sean Walker
Pyotr Kochetkov
Dustin Tokarski
Injuries and Scratches: Jack Drury (hand), Frederik Andersen (LBI), Jesper Fast (neck)
Devils Projected Lineup
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Stefan Noesen
Ondrej Palat - Jack Hughes - Jesper Bratt
Paul Cotter - Erik Haula - Dawson Mercer
Tomas Tatar - Justin Dowling - Nathan Bastian
Brendan Dillon - Dougie Hamilton
Jonas Siegenthaler - Johnathan Kovecevic
Luke Hughes - Brett Pesce
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
Injuries and Scratches: Kurtis MacDermid, Curtis Lazar (knee)