Game Preview: Wild versus Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes Home Stand
The Carolina Hurricanes return home for a two-game stand at the Lenovo Center after a road trip to the northeast. They will face Minnesota and Buffalo in upcoming home games.
Recent Hurricanes Performance
On Tuesday night, Carolina secured a strong win against the New York Rangers. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal as a Hurricane on the power play. The Canes controlled the second and third periods, limiting New York to just one shot in the final frame. Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves for a shutout in his season debut despite a depleted Carolina defense.
Minnesota Wild Season Overview
The Minnesota Wild were expected to be a bubble playoff team but have struggled early this season. After winning two of their first three games, Minnesota managed only one win in their last nine games through October. The Wild ended a five-game losing streak on November 1 and won in overtime against Nashville on Tuesday.
Strengths of the Wild
- The Wild’s power play is their strongest asset, ranked third-best in the NHL at converting 31.5% of chances.
- Led by Kirill Kaprizov, who is tied for ninth in NHL scoring with eight goals and 10 assists.
- Kaprizov ranks second in power play goals (5) and points (9).
- Other key contributors with double-digit points include Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Marcus Johansson.
“Nikolaj Ehlers netted his first goal as a Hurricane, and did so on the power play.”
“The Wild have the third-best power play in the NHL, converting on 31.5 percent of their opportunities.”
Author's Summary: The Hurricanes return home confident after a shutout win, while the Wild seek to rebound relying on a powerful top line and one of the NHL’s best power plays.