Game Preview: Wild versus Hurricanes
After a brief road trip to the northeast, the Carolina Hurricanes return to the Lenovo Center for a two-game homestand against Minnesota and Buffalo. On Tuesday night, Carolina secured an impressive victory over the struggling Rangers.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal as a Hurricane during a power play, while Pyotr Kochetkov earned a 26-save shutout in his season debut. Despite injuries on defense, Carolina controlled the pace in the final two periods, holding New York to only one shot in the third.
Upcoming Challenge: Minnesota Wild
The Hurricanes now shift their attention to the Minnesota Wild. Initially viewed as a borderline playoff team, Minnesota stumbled early in the season—after winning two of their first three games, the team posted just one win in the next nine to close out October. However, the Wild broke a five-game skid on November 1 and recently edged Nashville in overtime.
Wild’s Offensive Profile
Minnesota’s power play has been a bright spot. Led by Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild currently hold the third-best power play percentage in the NHL, converting on 31.5% of chances. Their attack leans heavily on key players.
- Kaprizov stands tied for ninth in league scoring with eight goals and ten assists.
- He ranks second in power play goals (5) and power play points (9).
- Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Marcus Johansson have also reached double digits in points this season.
“The offense is extremely top-heavy, powered by Kaprizov and a small core of contributors.”
Author’s Summary
The Hurricanes return home to face a strong Minnesota power play, aiming to extend their momentum after a dominant win over New York.