Hurricanes look to get back to winning ways in Ottawa

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 7: Linseman Mark Shewchyk #92 chats with Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes prior to a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 7: Linseman Mark Shewchyk #92 chats with Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes prior to a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 7: Linseman Mark Shewchyk #92 chats with Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes prior to a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 7: Linseman Mark Shewchyk #92 chats with Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes prior to a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

After seeing their 4 game winning streak snapped by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Carolina Hurricanes travel through Ontario to play in Canada’s capital. Tonight’s opponents for the Carolina Hurricanes will be the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tyre Center. A team that Carolina should smack back to the bottom of the standings, in theory, we know that this team has been a real banana peel for the Canes previously.

While the Senators are playing for nothing but pride and draft lottery odds, the Carolina Hurricanes are trying to get a firmer hold at the top of the Metropolitan division. After their disappointing trip to Toronto, Carolina cannot afford to drop more points in this one. With the team on pace to capture its first-ever Metropolitan division title, two points would go a long way into ensuring they’re not piped to it.

Ottawa has taken three points from the two previous meetings. This is a team that the Canes have had their fair share of troubles with over the last little while here. Winning this game tonight would go a long way for the team to ensure that the team remains in a prime position to get home ice when they start the playoffs at the end of May. Otherwise, this is a time for the depth to stand up.

Why do I say that? The trade deadline is around 6 weeks away. Teams are going to start to call and kick tires on assets, players, picks, and anything else that could make their roster better. Carolina needs to be able to use this time to assess what is not right within the current feel of the roster. When the Hurricanes arrive at the deadline, they’re going to be viewed as one of the contenders looking to improve, so these games are important.