Game Preview: Wild versus Hurricanes
Canes Return Home for a Two-Game Stand
After a two-game road trip to the northeast, the Carolina Hurricanes are back at the Lenovo Center to face Minnesota and Buffalo. On Tuesday, the Canes secured a strong victory against a struggling Rangers team.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal as a Hurricane, and it came on the power play.
Carolina controlled the second and third periods, limiting New York to a single shot in the final period. Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves for a shutout in his season debut despite playing behind a weakened Carolina defense.
Focus Shifts to Minnesota Wild
The Wild were considered a bubble playoff team this season but have faced challenges early on. After winning two of their first three games, Minnesota managed just one victory in nine games through October.
The team snapped a five-game losing streak on November 1 and then defeated Nashville in overtime on Tuesday.
Minnesota’s Power Play Strength
The Wild’s power play stands out as their key asset. Led by Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota ranks third in the NHL with a 31.5% conversion rate on power play opportunities.
Kaprizov is tied for ninth in league scoring, with eight goals and ten assists, and ranks second in power play goals (5) and points (9). Other Minnesota players with double-digit points this season include Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Marcus Johansson.
The offense is extremely top-heavy.
Carolina now turns its attention to the challenge posed by the Wild.
Author's Summary
This upcoming matchup features Carolina’s strong defense and goaltending against Minnesota’s potent power play, led by star Kirill Kaprizov.