Gold: Canes start critical stretch tonight in Toronto
Posted March 17, 2022 1:40 p.m. EDT
There are exactly six weeks remaining in the regular season for the Carolina Hurricanes. Over the next 42 days, the Canes will play 23 games – with four more sets of back-to-back contests – as they pursue their first ever Metropolitan Division title. But, if we’re being honest, it’s possible the division could be decided within the next two weeks if all goes well for Carolina.
Starting tonight in Toronto, the Hurricanes will play 8 games in 13 nights all against teams that are among the best in their respective conferences. It starts with the season series finale against the Leafs (1-0-1) before a quick turnaround at home against the Capitals (0-2-0). That starts a 4-game home stand that will see the Rangers (1-0-0), Lightning (1-0-0) and Stars (0-1-0) come to town.
Carolina follows that with a 3-game road swing through St Louis (1-0-0), Washington and Tampa, with the last two of those a rare Monday-Tuesday back to back. You decide what would be an acceptable outcome from those eight games, but when this gauntlet is negotiated we’ll have a very clear picture of what will be needed for the Canes to clinch home ice advantage for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs.
This will be the third and final meeting with the Maple Leafs this year. Carolina took the first match up in Raleigh, 4-1. Then fell in overtime, in Toronto, in the first game after the All Star break when Mitch Marner’s second goal of the game found its way through a scrum in front of Freddie Andersen for a 4-3 finish.
On the ice for the game-winner were Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis and Tony DeAngelo and it remains to be determined how many of that trio will dress for tonight. Clearly, Andrei will play tonight, but DeAngelo has missed the last 9 games with an abdominal injury. Core issues are tricky, and while he did skate this week and practiced in full yesterday in Raleigh, it’s possible that DeAngelo won’t draw back into the mix. If he doesn’t, Brendan Smith, who took a puck off the face in Pittsburgh and has missed the last 10 games, would be available to start.
A return of DeAngelo would be a boost for an offense that has struggled over the last 8 games. Kicking out the pair of Sebastian Aho empty net goals, the Canes have scored just 16 goals in that span, though they are 5-2-1 in that stretch.
The power play initially didn’t sag in DeAngelo’s absence, going 6 for 18 in the first five games without their normal top quarterback. But, the Canes are 0 for their last 7 in the past three games and could use the jolt of energy DeAngelo would provide in all situations.
As for Jarvis, he was a healthy extra the last two games, so we’ll see what Rod Brind’Amour has in store. Judging from the practice groupings Wednesday, Jarvis would remain the odd man out among the forwards.
The breakup of the SAT line featuring Svechnikov, Aho and Teuvo Teravainen lasted about 1 period and a half. Midway through Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh, Brind’Amour put the trio back together with noticeable results. Production, however, still remains an issue for the group. It’s been more than a month since either Aho or Svechnikov have scored a 5-on-5 goal.
Aho’s last in that situation came during the Hurricanes’ 6-0 win in Boston on February 10. Andrei netted one in the 3rd period two nights later in Minnesota. That’s a long time to go without your top two goal-scorers finding success at even strength. That line has now been together for a dozen games and only Teravainen has scored in a 5v5 situation in that stretch.
With that said, there’s no question that Carolina’s top line has been excellent in all three zones over that time, so it’s been a case of everything but the goals.
Aho has a 5-game point streak and goals in each of his last 3.
Svechnikov has 1 goal in his last 11 games.
Vincent Trocheck is without a goal in his last 8 games.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is in the midst of a 10-game goal drought.
Martin Necas has just 1 goal in his last 22 games and 2 in his last 30.
Toronto will be without superstar Auston Matthews due to a 2-game suspension for a brutal crosscheck to the neck of Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin last weekend. And, he was on fire with 8 goals in a 5-game tear. He’s also scored 3 of the 5 Maple Leaf goals against Carolina this year. Marner has the other two and has 14 career points (6g, 8a) in 12 games against the Hurricanes.
John Tavares might be headed for the Hall of Fame anyway, but he’s a no-brainer 1st ballot player against Carolina. He has 27 career goals and 50 points in 41 games against the Hurricanes. Though, in an odd twist, he’s a -21.
The Hurricanes are a slight favorite on the road tonight at -115 on the money line. The total is O/U 6 goals.
Coverage begins on 99.9 the Fan at 6:30 with Storm Watch starring Alec Campbell. Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy follow with the live play-by-play just after 7:00. Make sure to follow the Canes Corner Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. A new episode drops the #MorningAfter every Hurricanes game.
