Carolina Hurricanes Take on the Surging Los Angeles Kings
By Brett Finger
The Carolina Hurricanes hope to keep the wins coming as they take on the hot Los Angeles Kings in California
Following slow starts from both teams, the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings have both been starting to get in the win category, but one of them will have to find the losing column once again tonight.
Information
Carolina Hurricanes (2-4-0) vs Los Angeles Kings (3-3-0)
October 23, 2015 – 10:30 pm (EST)
Staples Center – Los Angeles, California
TV/Radio – Fox Sports Carolinas/99.9 FM The Fan, WRALSportsFan.com
Lineups
Carolina Hurricanes
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Los Angeles Kings
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Source: LeftWingLock.com
Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes will look to build off a solid defensive outing in Colorado on Wednesday with a big effort against the Los Angeles Kings.
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The Canes are almost half-way through their season-long seven-game road trip, and they have found their first wins of the season going 2-1-0 thus far. The Kings, however, will provide a unique challenge to an offensively lethargic Hurricanes club.
Los Angeles is on a roll. After falling to 0-3-0 in the opening week of the season, they’ve bounced back in a big way with three consecutive victories, including a 4-1 win over the Pacific Division leading San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
The Kings have been lights out defensively, allowing just 1 goal per game over their last three wins. They’ve also allowed under 27 shots against in two of their last three games.
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Jeff Carter is coming off of a breakout 4-point performance in Thursday’s win, and his linemate Tyler Toffoli enters Friday with a 3-game goal streak.
Despite some great individual performances offensively from the Kings, their offense has been largely stagnant, much like the Carolina Hurricanes over the past few weeks.
The Canes have seen breakout performances from the likes of Eric Staal and Kris Versteeg at times on their road trip, but consistency is the key for the club to be successful.
Cam Ward was lights out in a 26-save shutout against the Avalanche on Wednesday, and he will get the start once again on Friday. It will be his 4th straight start. He has been in net for both of Carolina’s win his season.
The Hurricanes recalled defenseman Brett Pesce from the Checkers on Thursday, but he is not expected to make his NHL debut against the Kings. Smart money says he will make it onto the ice at some point this weekend.
All eyes will be on the Carolina offense, and their power play in particular. The Hurricanes rank 26th in the NHL in goals scored, and their measly 8% powerplay success rate is second to last in the league. They’ve registered just 2 powerplay goals on 24 attempts.
Carolina Hurricanes
The offense will need to come alive against the surging Los Angeles Kings, and the play of Jeff Skinner and Jordan Staal will be a big part of it.
Skinner has been noticeable in a great way through the opening six games, but he has yet to find his stride offensively.
The young forward has been a noticeable player due to his two-way game and his ability to take the puck away from opponents early on in the season. This has come as a surprise to many, but he needs to turn that defense into offense. He has gotten some quality scoring chances, but he stands with just 1 goal and 2 total points this season. One big goal or play could open the flood gates for this proven scorer.
Jordan Staal has 0 points this season, which is as unprecedented as anything from Carolina this season. He has been invisible both with and without the puck in the offensive zone, and that absolutely needs to change.
He has started to go to the front of the net, and he has started to make some characteristic power moves to the net, but it all means nothing unless he starts breaking through. That is the next step for Staal – breaking through and making an impact on the outcome of the game outside of his defensive play.
The Carolina Hurricanes will look to pick up a big road win before they take on the Sharks on Saturday, but it may be their toughest opponent of the road trip thus far, so it will not be easy for the visitors.