Game Preview: Wild versus Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes return home for a two-game series at the Lenovo Center following a road trip to the northeast. They will host the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres.
Hurricanes' Recent Performance
On Tuesday, the Canes secured an impressive victory against the struggling New York Rangers. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal as a Hurricane during a power play. Carolina controlled the second and third periods, limiting New York to only one shot in the final period. Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves for a shutout in his season debut, despite the team playing with a depleted defense.
Minnesota Wild's Season Overview
The Wild entered the season considered a bubble playoff team but have had a rough start. After winning two of their first three games, they managed only one win in nine games through October. The team snapped a five-game losing streak on November 1 and recently defeated Nashville in overtime.
Key Strengths and Players
Minnesota’s biggest asset is its power play, ranked third-best in the NHL with a 31.5% conversion rate. Kirill Kaprizov leads this effort and stands out offensively as well.
- Kaprizov is tied for ninth in NHL scoring with eight goals and 10 assists.
- He ranks second in power play goals (5) and power play points (9).
- Other significant contributors with double-digit points include Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Marcus Johansson.
Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild with eight goals, 10 assists, and the team’s potent power play at 31.5% success rate.
The Hurricanes now prepare to face a Wild team relying heavily on its power play and top scorers.
Author's summary: The Hurricanes aim to continue their strong home performance against a Minnesota Wild team fueled by a powerful offense and key players like Kirill Kaprizov.