Hurricanes Aim for Third Straight Win as Leafs Close Out Road Trip
Alright, so here’s what’s going on tonight in Raleigh as the Carolina Hurricanes get ready to host the Toronto Maple Leafs — and there’s a lot of storylines packed into this matchup.
The Hurricanes come in riding some momentum. They’ve won two straight and are in the middle of this long seven-game homestand, trying to string together a third victory. Their most recent outing was that tight 1-0 overtime win against Calgary, where Nikolaj Ehlers buried the only goal and Brandon Bussi posted his first NHL shutout. It was one of those games where the structure held, the goaltending was calm, and the team found a way.
And speaking of Ehlers, tonight is a big milestone for him. He’s set to skate in his 700th career NHL game, making him only the eighth player from the 2014 draft class to reach that mark. Since joining the Canes, he’s been quietly productive — 16 points since late October, which actually puts him right behind Sebastian Aho in team scoring during that stretch.
Also Read:- Josh McGuire Faces Child-Strangulation Charge Amid Ongoing Investigation
- Hurricanes Bring Back Fensore Ahead of Matchup With the Maple Leafs
Now, the big question for Carolina tonight is in net. Pyotr Kochetkov finally returned to practice after dealing with a lower-body issue, so the team suddenly has options. Bussi has looked confident, Andersen has been trying to rediscover his rhythm, and Kochetkov has been excellent when healthy. It feels like one of those nights where any of them could get the nod depending on how the coaches sense the matchup.
On the other side, Toronto is rolling with Joseph Woll again, and it makes sense — he’s been steady, posting a .924 save percentage since returning to the lineup. With Anthony Stolarz out and the road trip winding down, Woll has become the team’s anchor. And he’s going to be busy, because Carolina averages more than 33 shots per game and already fired 47 on Toronto in their previous meeting on November 9, a game the Hurricanes stole with a big comeback.
Toronto, though, has been clawing its way back into relevance. They’ve won three of their last four, and while nobody in that locker room is celebrating too early, there’s a sense that their game is trending upward. Veteran leaders like John Tavares and Auston Matthews have been pushing the message of patience, structure, and staying calm under pressure — which they’ll absolutely need against a Hurricanes team that forechecks as aggressively as anyone.
There’s also a fun subplot tonight with faceoffs. Tavares and Jordan Staal are two of the best in the league at the dot, and every draw between them feels like its own mini-battle. Those small moments can tilt possession, and possession often tilts the game when Carolina is involved.
So with the Hurricanes trying to keep their home stand rolling and the Leafs looking to finish their long road trip with a statement win, this one has all the ingredients for a high-energy, fast-paced matchup. Both teams know what happened last time — a wild “river hockey” kind of night — and both are trying hard not to let things get that loose again. But with the talent on both sides, you just never know.
Read More:
0 Comments