Gold: Hurricanes back home to meet Columbus
Posted February 25, 2022 10:59 a.m. EST
Updated February 25, 2022 11:29 a.m. EST
The Carolina Hurricanes tank hit empty Monday afternoon in Philadelphia. Thanks only to the incredible work from goaltender Frederik Andersen the Hurricanes managed to drag the Flyers into overtime. Then a scintillating game-winning goal from Brett Pesce sent the Canes into a 3-day break on a 3-game winning streak.
How gassed was Carolina after 4 games in 6 days? Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour gave the team two full days off before hitting the practice rink in advance of Friday’s home game with Columbus. Well, at least they get to ease back into the flow with the Blue Jackets, a team that is in the midst of a rebuild with no chance at making the playoffs.
Columbus is on fire. The Jackets have won 7 of 8 in February. They just whipped the Panthers in Florida, 6-3. They’re not quite on the heels of Washington in the race for a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, but they also have every right to believe they still have a chance with 3 ½ weeks to go until the trade deadline. Oh, and they beat the Panthers without star defenseman Zach Werenski, as they capped off a 4-game tear in which the Jackets have rung up a cool 24 goals.
That’s 6 goals per game if you’re scoring at home. Well, so much for easing back into the schedule.
Last time...
A forgettable night in Raleigh on January 13 as Columbus embarrassed Carolina, 6-0. The Blue Jackets took a 2-0 lead into the 3rd period and poured in 4 more goals -- 3 coming in a 1:07 span early in the frame -- en route to the win. What made it worse was the fact that it was Carolina's first appearance on ESPN/Hulu.
Infirmary report...
The Blue Jackets have been without former Carolina defenseman Jake Bean, forward Alexandre Texier and their top three goaltenders. Journeyman J. F. Berube was in net for last night's 6-3 win in Florida. If it's not the 30-year old 2009 4th round pick it will be undrafted rookie Jet Greaves who has yet to appear in an NHL game.
Carolina is also banged up, especially on the back end. In each of the last two games, Sunday in Pittsburgh and the next day in Philadelphia, the Canes lost one of their defensemen to injury. Against the Pens, Brendan Smith blocked a shot with the side of his face and is understandably not yet ready to return to action. The next night Tony DeAngelo left the game with an upper body injury. As a result, the team recalled defenseman Jalen Chatfield from Chicago in the American Hockey League.
Chatfield will be making his second appearance with the Canes. He skated in 7 games with Carolina during a Covid outbreak and was impressive enough to earn a 2-year contract extension with the club. He’s posted 5 goals and 11 points in 30 AHL games with the Wolves and will play the right side with Brady Skjei if the pairings in practice are any indication.
Power outage…
With DeAngelo out of the line up for a an extended period – Rod Brind’Amour said “about a month” – Jaccob Slavin will assume the role of running the top power play unit. Ethan Bear will get the first crack at PP2.
Hot or not…
Patrik Laine has 21 points (13g, 8a) in an 11-game point streak.
Boone Jenner has a 5-game point streak (3g, 5a).
Max Domi has 1 goal in his last 19 games.
Andrei Svechnikov has 26 points (13g, 13a) and 10 multi-point games since New Year’s Day (26 games).
Sebastian Aho (12g, 21a in 26 games) and Teuvo Teravainen (10g, 16a in 24 games)) have combined for 59 points since the start of December.
Martin Necas has gone 13 games without a goal and has just 1 in his last 21.
Seth Jarvis hasn’t scored in his last 12 games.
Line ‘em up
Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen
Jarvis-Trocheck-Necas
Niederretier-Staal-Fast
Lorentz-Kotkaniemi-Martinook
Slavin-Pesce
Skjei-Chatfield
Cole-Bear
What’s my line…?
Carolina -350. O/U: 6.5.
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.
