Carolina Hurricanes host Western Conference Leading Blackhawks

The Carolina Hurricanes will head into the All Star break after facing one of the strongest teams in the NHL, the Western Conference leading Chicago Blackhawks.

The Carolina Hurricanes are going to be tested before they get to take some time off this week, as the powerful and talented Chicago Blackhawks visit PNC Arena. By the numbers, the Carolina Hurricanes season and playoff chase is trending in the right direction. Aside from a couple recent hiccups, the team is playing well, and gaining points in 65% of the games they play right now. All the signs bode well going into the All Star break, and for the final stretch-run to the post season.

The Blackhawks, though, are in first place in the Western Conference, have a hot goaltender in Corey Crawford, and the NHL’s goal, assist and points leader in Patrick Kane. This game will definitely be a test for the Canes.

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Game Information

Chicago Blackhawks at Carolina Hurricanes

January 26, 2016, 7:30 pm

PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

NBC Sports Network – 99.9 FM The Fan (Note network and time)

Season Records

Carolina Hurricanes – 21-20-8 – 50 points – 6th in Metro – 12th in Eastern

Chicago Blackhawks – 33-15-4 – 70 points – 1st in Central – 1st in Western

Team Records – Last 10-20-30 Games with Points %

Carolina Hurricanes – 6-3-1 (65%) – 10-6-4 (60%) – 15-10-5 (58%)

Chicago Blackhawks – 9-1-0 (90%) – 16-4-0 (80%) – 21-7-2 (73%)

Team/Game Notes

The Blackhawks righted their barely-listing ship on Sunday night against the St. Louis Blues, winning 2-0. After going on a franchise-record 12-game winning streak, they were on the wrong end of the scoreboard twice last week. Tampa Bay beat them 2-1, then they got shutout by the Florida Panthers 4-0.

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Chicago’s netminder Corey Crawford (who everyone thinks should be in the All Star game) stopped all 25 shots he faced to earn his league-leading seventh shutout. Crawford has gone 10-1-0 in his past eleven contests, and according to his coach, now has a much stronger defensive corps in front of him. Perhaps Coach Quennville will give him the night off before the All Star break.

Patrick Kane continues to dominate on the ice with 30 goals and 43 assists for 73 points, leading all other skaters this season. Nothing more to add here really.

Eddie Lack recorded his first career shutout for Carolina against Toronto last week, and stopped 31 shots in the victory against Calgary on Sunday. He is becoming a much more consistent goalie, and the increase in ice-time while Ward is on IR should help him stay in that groove. He was also the last goalie to beat the Blackhawks before they went on their 12-game winning romp. Here’s hoping he has that magic again tonight.

The line of Jordan Staal, Andrej Nestrasil, and Joakim Nordstrom (thank you for the Nordstrom/Versteeg trade Chicago) is becoming the Hurricanes’ best and most consistent line. On paper they are seen as the grinding, shutdown line, that goes against the other team’s best players…and they are very good at that. Recently, though, they have really started gelling offensively, and have been scoring when the other lines have not. Their forechecking, especially Nordstrom’s, has led to tons of chances and more goals.

Brett Pesce (lower body) hasn’t been ruled out for tonight’s game by Coach Peters, but he didn’t practice yesterday. Riley Nash did practice, and looks to return tonight. Lack will be in net.

Next: Carolina Hurricanes Win Two of Three Games, Trending Upwards Before All-Star Weekend

This game is going to be a true test of the Hurricanes’ improving play and record. They are going up against, without question, one of the strongest teams in the NHL right now. A win tonight, or very strong showing, would be a huge confidence boost going into the All Star break. The Canes and their fans really need to have positive thoughts as they sit (except for Faulk) for the rest of the week.

Go Canes!