The Canes close out the season series against the Isles.
After a successful trip through Ontario, the Canes return to the US and try to even the series against the Islanders. They’ve not played well against them this year, needing a 4 goal comeback to win in November before losing a pair of 5-4 games, the first of which featured the Canes outshooting the Isles 43-16. Guentzel got his first on Sunday, Kuzy scored again, extended both of their scoring streaks to 3 games and Orlov had a 4 point night. His 2nd goal was assisted by Svech and Kuzy marking the first time in franchise history a goal was scored and assisted by all Russians. Andersen improved to 4-0 since his return, with a 1.26 GAA and .949 save %. If the rotation holds, we should see Kochetkov in goal, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Martin tonight.
The Isles are struggling, losers of 4 straight after a new coach bounce. They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 and 10-8-4 since Patrick Roy took over. They’re coming off a 5-2 loss to the Rangers on Sunday, a game that was tied at 2 with 6 minutes left in the 2nd. They’re 4th in the Wild Card, 2 points behind the Caps, 1 behind the reeling Red Wings. The Isles have 4 - 20 goal scorers, led by Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson with 29. Kyle Palmieri has 21, Mathew Barzal has 20. Noah Dobson leads with 57 assists. Barzal averages better than a point per game, Dobson is just under. In goal, Ilya Sorokin has taken a huge step backward, at 3.03 GAA, he’s 0.70 worse than last season. His save % of .909 is better than NHL average, but lower than last season’s .924. He’s backed up by Semyon Varlamov who is at 2.86/.910 in 20 games. The Isles are 20th in goals per game, 22nd in goals against. Their PP is 15th but the PK is bad, DFL at 71.8%
Black jerseys tonight. National TV on ESPN+ with Bob Wichusen and Kevin Weekes on the call.
After a successful trip through Ontario, the Canes return to the US and try to even the series against the Islanders. They’ve not played well against them this year, needing a 4 goal comeback to win in November before losing a pair of 5-4 games, the first of which featured the Canes outshooting the Isles 43-16. Guentzel got his first on Sunday, Kuzy scored again, extended both of their scoring streaks to 3 games and Orlov had a 4 point night. His 2nd goal was assisted by Svech and Kuzy marking the first time in franchise history a goal was scored and assisted by all Russians. Andersen improved to 4-0 since his return, with a 1.26 GAA and .949 save %. If the rotation holds, we should see Kochetkov in goal, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Martin tonight.
The Isles are struggling, losers of 4 straight after a new coach bounce. They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 and 10-8-4 since Patrick Roy took over. They’re coming off a 5-2 loss to the Rangers on Sunday, a game that was tied at 2 with 6 minutes left in the 2nd. They’re 4th in the Wild Card, 2 points behind the Caps, 1 behind the reeling Red Wings. The Isles have 4 - 20 goal scorers, led by Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson with 29. Kyle Palmieri has 21, Mathew Barzal has 20. Noah Dobson leads with 57 assists. Barzal averages better than a point per game, Dobson is just under. In goal, Ilya Sorokin has taken a huge step backward, at 3.03 GAA, he’s 0.70 worse than last season. His save % of .909 is better than NHL average, but lower than last season’s .924. He’s backed up by Semyon Varlamov who is at 2.86/.910 in 20 games. The Isles are 20th in goals per game, 22nd in goals against. Their PP is 15th but the PK is bad, DFL at 71.8%
Black jerseys tonight. National TV on ESPN+ with Bob Wichusen and Kevin Weekes on the call.