Carolina Hurricanes Look to Win Season Series Against the Senators

The Carolina Hurricanes look to pick up a win and clinch the season series against the Ottawa Senators.

The entire NHL is preparing for the final stretch of the 2015-2016 NHL regular season, and even though the Hurricanes find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoff race, they have a lot to prove and a lot to achieve in the final 16 games.

More from Cardiac Cane – Canes Impress After Eric Staal Trade

The Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators, tied in points in the Eastern Conference, will battle it out on Tuesday night with the season series on the line.

Game Information

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators

Tuesday, March 8, 2016, 7:00 pm (EST)

PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina

Fox Sports Carolinas/99.9 FM The Fan

Season Records

Carolina Hurricanes – 29-26-11 – 69 points – 6th in Metropolitan – 10th in East – 6 points out of 2nd Wild Card spot

Ottawa Senators – 31-29-7 – 69 points – 5th in Atlantic – 12th in East – 6 points out of 2nd Wild Card spot

Leading Scorers

Carolina Hurricanes – Jeff Skinner (23 goals), Elias Lindholm/Victor Rask (24 assists), Jordan Staal (40 points)

Ottawa Senators – Mike Hoffman (25 goals), Erik Karlsson (57 assists), Erik Karlsson (68 points)

Team/Game Notes

• Since the trade deadline, the Hurricanes have post an even 1-1-1 record, picking up points three of four possible points over their last two games against the Devils (win) and Lightning (OT loss). The Senators have gone 1-2-1 in that same span, including a 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs and a 4-3 shootout loss against the Blues.
• Sens blue liner Erik Kalrsson leads the club in points (68) and ranks first amongst all NHL defensemen in both assists (57) and points. The Hurricanes will be without their star defenseman Justin Faulk once again due to a lower-body injury.
• In Faulk’s absence, Jaccob Slavin has stepped up into a top-two role. He is coming off of a career-high 29:54 of ice time in Saturday’s overtime loss against the Lightning.
• Cam Ward will get the net for the Hurricanes on Tuesday. After posting a 7-1-3 record from January 8 through February 23, Ward has lost three consecutive starts, allowing at least three goals in each appearance. He was in net for Carolina’s 3-2 overtime win against the Senators on November 7.
• Senator’s forward Mike Hoffman is three goals short of 28, which would be a career-high for the 26-year old. He netted 27 goals a season ago. He has gone without a point in each of his last four games.
• Jeff Skinner had posted a pair of two-point game over his last three outings. He had one goal and one assist against the Blues on February 29 and against the Lightning on Saturday.
• The Senators and Hurricanes both appear to be too far out of a playoff spot to make a legitimate run at this point in the season, but both clubs are just six points out, so, statistically, it is still very possible. Both teams aren’t going to rule themselves out, so expect them to come out hard in search of a big win. These games remain very important.
• Carolina sent forwards Derek Ryan and Brock McGinn down to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL after a brief two-game cup of coffee with the big club. Forward Brendan Woods was recalled from the Checkers shortly after. He leads Charlotte in plus/minus and played in a pair of NHL games a season ago. He failed to register a point.
• Jay McClement has missed four games with an upper-body injury. He has been practicing with the club on the fourth line this week, and he is expected to be ready to play against the Senators.
• The Hurricanes and Senators have split their first two matches this season with the home team winning each game. Carolina won 3-2 in overtime on November 7 in Raleigh, and Ottawa won 4-2 on February 18 in Ottawa.

Next: Hurricanes Three Stars of the Week

It’s time for the home stretch of the 2015-2016 season. Carolina and Ottawa both have a lot to play for, despite where they sit in the standings.