Game Preview: Wild versus Hurricanes
Canes Return Home
The Carolina Hurricanes come back to the Lenovo Center for a two-game home stand after a northeast road trip, preparing to face Minnesota and Buffalo.
Recent Performance
On Tuesday night, the Hurricanes secured a valuable victory over the struggling New York Rangers. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal as a Hurricane on the power play. Carolina dominated the second and third periods, allowing New York only one shot in the final frame. Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves for a shutout in his season debut, despite a depleted defense.
Minnesota Wild Outlook
The Wild were initially considered a bubble playoff team but have encountered a tough start to the season. After winning two of their first three games, Minnesota managed only one victory in nine games during October. The team snapped a five-game losing streak on November 1 and won in overtime against Nashville on Tuesday.
Power Play Strength
Minnesota's main strength is their power play, ranked third in the NHL with a 31.5% success rate. Kirill Kaprizov leads the offense:
- Kaprizov is tied for ninth in league scoring with 8 goals and 10 assists.
- He ranks second in power play goals with 5 and power play points with 9.
- Other top contributors include Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Marcus Johansson, all with double-digit points.
“Carolina dominated the second and third periods, limiting New York to just one shot in the final period.”
“The Wild have the third-best power play in the NHL, converting on 31.5 percent of their opportunities.”
The Hurricanes aim to leverage their recent momentum as they host a Wild team that relies heavily on its power play but has struggled for consistency early in the season.
Author’s summary: The Hurricanes return home after a strong road win to face a Minnesota team with a potent power play yet an inconsistent start, setting the stage for a competitive series.