Game #14 Preview: Canes @ Golden Knights

 

Hurricanes (11-2-0) @ Golden Knights (9-6-0)

The Hurricanes start a six-game road trip tonight in Vegas against one of the hottest teams in the NHL. This is the first game of 5 straight on the west coast for Carolina. Vegas just got back their captain Mark Stone from injury. He will be a difference-maker tonight for the Knights.


Previous Meeting

The last game played between Carolina and Vegas was a barnburner in the 2019-20 season. Carolina came back from two goals down in the third to force overtime, eventually ending in a shootout win for Carolina.


It’s hot in Vegas

The Golden Knights have strung off 8 wins in their last 10 games. The scariest part about this streak is that they have done most of it without Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, as Pacioretty is yet to come back from injury, and Stone just returned last game against Vancouver. Vegas has gone on this hot streak without two top-line forwards. Their offense has scored 37 goals in these 10 games. It is safe to say that the Knights are still a prime contender for the Stanley Cup, especially when they get Jack Eichel in the lineup for the 2nd half of the season.


Seth Jarvis is here to stay

At this point of the season, it would be a huge mistake to send Jarvis to the WHL. Seth Jarvis has been one of Carolina’s most effective forwards since he got inserted into the lineup. He has shown the potential to play on a top-line with other talented players. While also showing the ability to play in a utility role with bottom-sixers like Martinook, Stepan, and Lorentz. If it was not for a close offside call and an early blown whistle, he would have 3 goals in 6 games played. 


Projected Lines

Svechnikov-Aho-Jarvis

Teravainen-Trocheck-Necas

Niederreiter-Staal-Fast

Lorentz-Stepan-Martinook


Slavin-Bear

Skjei-DeAngelo

Smith-Cole


Andersen

Raanta 


Injuries: Pesce (Upper Body), Niederreiter (Lower Body, Game-Time Decision), Necas (Non-Covid Illness, Game-Time Decision), Fast (Non-Covid Illness, Game-Time Decision)

Scratches: Kotkaniemi


Kotkaniemi will fill in if one of Necas, Fast, or Niederreiter cannot play, but all three are expected to be in the lineup tonight.


What the Analytics Predict

MoneyPuck.com gives Carolina a 54.5% chance of winning tonight

Vegas statistically has one of the worst 5-on-5 defenses in the NHL. They are a league-worst in xGoals against per 60 at 3.18 (Via MoneyPuck.com). Carolina will need to take advantage of this tonight if they want to keep up with the hottest offense in the NHL.


Players to Watch

Andrei Svechnikov has been kept off the goal-scoring sheet for the past few games, but he has still created the chances to score goals. If he continues to play at a high level, the goals will come.


Mark Stone is one of the best players in the NHL. He will give Carolina a lot of problems tonight if Carolina does not manage the puck and stay out of the box. Stone will kill them on the counter-attack, and the power play


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