Game Preview: Wild versus Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes return home for a two-game stand after a road trip to the northeast. They will host the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres at the Lenovo Center.
Recent Hurricanes Performance
On Tuesday night, the Hurricanes secured a strong victory against a struggling New York Rangers team. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal as a Hurricane during a power play. Carolina controlled the second and third periods, allowing New York only one shot in the final period.
Pyotr Kochetkov recorded a 26-save shutout in his season debut despite a depleted Carolina defense.
Focus on Minnesota Wild
The Wild were expected to be a playoff bubble team but have faced challenges early in the season. After a promising start with two wins in three games, Minnesota managed just one win in nine games through October. They ended a five-game losing streak on November 1 and won in overtime against Nashville on the following Tuesday.
Power Play Strength
Minnesota’s top strength lies in their power play, ranking third-best in the NHL with a conversion rate of 31.5 percent. Kirill Kaprizov leads the team offensively, tied for ninth in league scoring with eight goals and 10 assists. He also ranks second in power play goals (5) and power play points (9).
Key Players
- Kirill Kaprizov
- Matt Boldy
- Marco Rossi
- Marcus Johansson
These players have all reached double-digit points this season.
Summary: The Hurricanes aim to build on recent success at home, while the Wild rely on a potent power play and key scorers to recover from early-season struggles.