Gold: Heading to Ontario to start the second half
Posted February 7, 2022 9:29 a.m. EST
Updated February 7, 2022 9:37 a.m. EST
The Carolina Hurricanes are jumping into the second half of the season with both feet, with make up games at Toronto and Ottawa, tonight and tomorrow. The Canes had seven games postponed due to the pandemic, border-crossing issues or – in the case of the game last month in Philadelphia – utter indifference. The first four of those, all on the road, will come tonight at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The last time the Hurricanes played the Maple Leafs on the road was one of the most unforgettable nights in franchise history. David Ayers came out of the stands, donned a number 90 road Carolina sweater, and backstopped the Canes to a 6-3 win over his hometown Leafs.
No one will ever forget that night.
More recently, the Hurricanes took on the Leafs in the 5th game of the season. After spotting Toronto a 1-0 lead on an Auston Matthews first period goal, Carolina scored three times in the second en route to a 4-1 win. Frederik Andersen made 24 saves to run his record to a perfect 5-0-0 as he stymied his former club in Raleigh.
Now, Andersen will make his first trip to Toronto since signing with the Hurricanes this off-season, though it’s possible that he won’t be in net tonight. Both Andersen and Sebastian Aho flew directly from the All Star Game in Las Vegas to Toronto so they did not practice with the team yesterday. Rod Brind’Amour said that he wasn’t sure whether or not he’d go with Freddie or let Antti Raanta start the first game of this 4-game week.
In addition, it’s not like this game is going to be an emotional return in front of a packed house. Ontario health and safety restrictions dictate that Scotiabank Arena will be virtually empty (same for the Hurricanes visit to Ottawa tomorrow).
Personnel matters...
Teuvo Teravainen is still bothered by a lower body injury and, though he did practice in full yesterday, Brind’Amour did say that he’d be a game time decision tonight. The team is expected to recall a forward from Chicago of the AHL for tonight’s game as insurance if Teravainen can’t start.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi entered the league’s Covid protocol yesterday, meaning that he’ll have to isolate for five days and thus will miss both games in Canada this week as well as the Thursday trip to Boston. That leaves Teravainen, Vincent Trocheck, Nino Niederreiter, Derek Stepan, Brady Skjei and Raanta as the only 6 Hurricanes players to avoid the Covid list this year. Remember, the NHL will now stop testing players unless they are showing symptoms.
A numbers game...
The Maple Leafs are one of a half dozen NHL teams with a points percentage over .700. Toronto is 29-10-3 on the season, good for 61 points (.726) in 42 games. The Leafs are 4th in the league in goals per game (3.60) and 6th in fewest goals allowed (2.64). Carolina is 5th (3.48) and 1st (2.33), respectively in those categories.
Very special teams...
It would probably be a good idea if the Hurricanes stayed out of the penalty box tonight. Toronto sports the top man advantage unit in the world at 30.5%. And, while Carolina’s penalty kill is also the top unit in the NHL (89%), they yield the most power play tries per game (3.5) than anyone else in the league. The Leafs have also been good shorthanded, with a 84.4% kill rate while potting five shorthanded goals on the year.
Coverage of the Canes and Leafs begins at 6:30 on 99.9 the Fan with Storm Watch starring Alec Campbell. Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy follow with the live play-by-play just after 7:00. Don’t forget to follow the Canes Corner Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. A new episode drops the #MorningAfter every Hurricanes game.
