Just the Facts:
- The Time: 4pm PT
- The Place: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Place to Watch: ROOT Northwest, ESPN+, Bally Sports South (somehow.)
- Place to Listen: KJR 93.3-FM
- An Opposing Viewpoint: Canes Country / Category Five Hockey
Know Your Enemy:
- The Hurricanes are 3-4-0 through their first 7 games, and it appears the Kraken did something to their mojo, because they’re on a 3 game losing streak.
- The Hurricanes are one of those teams who spreads the wealth in terms of points, and this year’s no different; they have three players with 7 points in 7 games; Seth Jarvis, Jaccob Slavin, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
- Seth Jarvis and Teuvo Tervainen are your main goalscorers for the Hurricanes with 4 in 7 games, though Jarvis’ goal total has overwhelmingly come on the power play.
- As per usual, the Carolina Hurricanes are a boa constrictor of possession, leading the league as of right now in Shot-Attempts, are 2nd in Unblocked-Shot Attempts, and are 2nd in Shots For-%. This is a team that loves having the puck, and will make taking the puck away from them a nightmare.
- Their goaltending however is uh, maybe sub-optimal for what they need to take control of the Metropolitan Division; they’ve tried Antti Raanta, Pyotr Kochetkov, and Frederik Anderson, and not a one of them has a Save-% over .900 so far this year. Can’t imagine at all what it’s like to do everything right but your goaltending is failing you. Just an alien feeling.
Game Preview
So! Funny thing about those Hurricanes I was so concerned about some time ago…they’re kind of being hamstrung right now!
Carolina has remained an absolutely ruthless puck possession machine through their first 7 games, but have mostly been incapable of capitalizing on any of it due to sub-standard goaltending and running into offenses with something to prove; they couldn’t hang with the Avalanche (who can right now), and were the first team not to come back against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa loves giving up comebacks right now! They can’t even do that right now.
Seattle meanwhile just came out of a game that was dominated by bizarre refereeing, atrocious penalty killing, and one incredible play in OT, so I can only imagine they’re feeling something along the lines of this. Still, they had to drop 7 on the Canes just to beat them, and while it is very fun to drop 7 on the Canes, it shouldn’t be the goal. Carolina has to be chomping at the bit to get their act together, and would be very ready to exercise whatever demons the Kraken appear to have conjured onto them. These Squids gotta be ready to put the pedal to the metal.
Still! Ought to be a great game, and hopefully these Squids can make yet another big step towards jumping up in the Pacific Division. After all, the difference between 5th in Division and 3rd right now is 2 points.
You can do a lot with 2 points. All you gotta do is get them.
LET’S GO KRAKEN!
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