The Canes look to extend a club record point streak and set a record winning streak.
A return to suffocating defense has fueled the Canes run. In the 15 game streak, the Canes are allowing an average of only 8 high danger chances. And the chances have been snuffed out by good goaltending. Over the course of the streak, Koochie has a .937 save %, best in the league over that stretch. The PK has crept back to respectability, now 10th in the league. Aho missed a bunch of games but Jordan Staal found his hands and is the leading scorer during the winning streak and has 8 points in the last 5 games. Positive news out of practice yesterday, RBA said we might see Pacioretty within the next 10 games. I imagine there will be a conditioning assignment in Chicago before he plays for the Canes. Raanta was a last minute starter last time out, hopefully Koochie has recovered from whatever it is that is ailing him.
The Panthers were expected to battle for the top of the Eastern Conference but they’re floundering, sitting at NHL .500, tied for 5th in the Atlantic, 9 points out of 3rd, 8 points out of the last wild card. They’re 4-6 in their last 10 but are coming off a 7-2 pasting of the Habs last night, behind 5 points from Barkov including a hat trick. He had missed the previous 3 games with an injury. Carter Verhaeghe leads with 18 goals, Matthew Tkachuk is right behind with 17 and he leads with 26 assists. Tkachuk and Barkov are each averaging better than a point per game. Eric Staal has 3 goals and 8 points in 29 games but he’s 2nd worst on the team at -10 playing just over 14 minutes per game. Bobrovsky has started 21 games in goal, he’s been bad, 3.23/.897. He’s getting better though, his last 5 games include 3 with better than .920 save %. He played last night, so expect Spencer Knight tonight. He’s been better than Bob at 2.93/.909 in 16 games. The Panthers are 9th in goals per game, 20th in goals against. They’re 23rd on the PP and 19th on the PK.
Note the later start time, ESPN+ tonight.
A return to suffocating defense has fueled the Canes run. In the 15 game streak, the Canes are allowing an average of only 8 high danger chances. And the chances have been snuffed out by good goaltending. Over the course of the streak, Koochie has a .937 save %, best in the league over that stretch. The PK has crept back to respectability, now 10th in the league. Aho missed a bunch of games but Jordan Staal found his hands and is the leading scorer during the winning streak and has 8 points in the last 5 games. Positive news out of practice yesterday, RBA said we might see Pacioretty within the next 10 games. I imagine there will be a conditioning assignment in Chicago before he plays for the Canes. Raanta was a last minute starter last time out, hopefully Koochie has recovered from whatever it is that is ailing him.
The Panthers were expected to battle for the top of the Eastern Conference but they’re floundering, sitting at NHL .500, tied for 5th in the Atlantic, 9 points out of 3rd, 8 points out of the last wild card. They’re 4-6 in their last 10 but are coming off a 7-2 pasting of the Habs last night, behind 5 points from Barkov including a hat trick. He had missed the previous 3 games with an injury. Carter Verhaeghe leads with 18 goals, Matthew Tkachuk is right behind with 17 and he leads with 26 assists. Tkachuk and Barkov are each averaging better than a point per game. Eric Staal has 3 goals and 8 points in 29 games but he’s 2nd worst on the team at -10 playing just over 14 minutes per game. Bobrovsky has started 21 games in goal, he’s been bad, 3.23/.897. He’s getting better though, his last 5 games include 3 with better than .920 save %. He played last night, so expect Spencer Knight tonight. He’s been better than Bob at 2.93/.909 in 16 games. The Panthers are 9th in goals per game, 20th in goals against. They’re 23rd on the PP and 19th on the PK.
Note the later start time, ESPN+ tonight.