What - Game 34 (17-12-4)
When - 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 23
Where - PNC Arena; Raleigh, NC
How to Watch - Bally Sports South
The Carolina Hurricanes will face the New York Islanders (15-8-9) for the third time this season.
Carolina is currently on a six-game point streak but the team has lost three of its last four.
Most recently the team suffered a 2-1 shootout loss to Sidney Crosby... I mean the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Hurricanes have been playing much better defensively over the last stretch helped along by the amazing play of Pyotr Kochetkov who is 3-0-2 with a 0.950 save percentage over the span of the point streak.
The Islanders are coming of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals and have lost three of their last four.
New York is a bit of a confusing team this year, as they've shown a penchant for being able to score a bunch and comeback in games that they're trailing but they also routinely blow multi-goal leads like it's nothing.
And in a weird turn of events, they have one of the league's worst PKs, while having a top-six PP.
Strange things happening on the Island.
Streaks
- None
Milestone Watch
- Sebastian Aho is two points shy of 500 career points
Game Notes
- Carolina is facing the Islanders for the third time this season.
- The Canes won the first game 4-3 in overtime but lost the second game 5-4 in overtime.
- The final regular-season game between these two teams will take place March 19.
Key Matchups
Starting Goalies
- Pyotr Kochetkov: 7-6-3; 0.899 Sv%; 2.53 GAA
- Ilya Sorokin: 9-4-7; 0.914 Sv%; 3.04 GAA
Leading Scorers
- Goals - Teuvo Teravainen & Sebastian Aho (12) / Brock Nelson (15)
- Points - Sebastian Aho (30) / Noah Dobson & Mathew Barzal (33)
Power Play
- Carolina - 23.4% (10th)
- New York - 25.6% (6th)
Penalty Kill
- Carolina - 82.2% (10th)
- New York - 71.9% (31st)
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
Teuvo Teravainen - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - Jesper Fast
Michael Bunting - Jack Drury - Stefan Noesen
Jaccob Slavin - Brent Burns
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Dmitry Orlov - Jalen Chatfield
Pyotr Kochetkov
Yaniv Perets
Injuries and Scratches: Brendan Lemieux, Tony DeAngelo, Frederik Andersen (blood-clotting issue)
Islanders Projected Lineup
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom - JG Pageau - Oliver Whalstrom
Hudson Fasching - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Alexander Romanov - Noah Dobson
Mike Reilly - Sebastian Aho
Samuel Bolduc - Robert Bortuzzo
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Injuries and Scratches: Grant Hutton, Julien Gauthier, Matt Martin, Adam Pelech (UBI), Ryan Pulock (LBI), Scott Mayfield (UBI)
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