The Carolina Hurricanes own the best record in the NHL, and tonight they host the Columbus Blue Jackets in Raleigh looking for their ninth win in 11 games, per Deadspin’s preview.
The headline is in net. Pyotr Kochetkov is 8-0-0, tying a Hurricanes franchise record, with a 1.62 goals-against average. He has played the last two games, so Brandon Bussi (2-2-2, 3.27 GAA) could get the start tonight. Kochetkov isn’t chasing the record, though. He said he “more worries about the quality of my game.”
Sebastian Aho scored the third-period winner in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Boston. It was the 69th game-winning goal of his career, extending his own franchise record.
The IAHHM Take
Carolina’s formula is simple: keep the goalies fresh and keep the shots against low. Kochetkov is facing just 19.8 shots per game. Rod Brind’Amour put it plainly: “Goaltending is all about the timely saves.” When your defense limits chances like this, those timely saves are enough.
The Canes also showed a new edge on Tuesday, when Nicolas Deslauriers dropped the gloves with Boston’s Tanner Jeannot in a long first-period fight. “That’s an element that we haven’t really had in the past,” Brind’Amour said. Skill plus toughness is how you get through a long season.
Columbus comes in hot-ish with two straight overtime wins, including Tuesday’s 4-3 win in Philadelphia on Kent Johnson’s OT winner. But the Jackets blew a 3-0 lead in that game and haven’t won in regulation since opening night. Taylor Hall is still out for Carolina after tweaking an injury, though it’s not considered serious.
The Triangle has a real contender on its hands. Is this the year the Canes finally get over the hump? While Carolina waits on hockey tonight, the Panthers are in Green Bay on TNF.
Source: Deadspin
