The first game of the season did not go as planned for the Carolina Hurricanes. A 4-1 defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Lenovo Center brought disappointment to an otherwise slow week. The NHL postponed the game in Tampa Bay on Saturday so the Canes have been waiting anxiously to redeem themselves on home ice. Tonight they will have a chance to do just that against a Metro Division rival. The New Jersey Devils come to Raleigh and face Pyotr Kochetkov and the Canes.
Head coach, Rod Brind'Amour has announced that Kochetkov will make his season debut after Frederik Andersen got the start against the Lightning on Friday. This will be a continuing trend as Kochetkov is the present and the future in the goal crease for this organization.
As the Canes have had the NHL's lowest games played to this point, the Devils are the opposite, playing in their 6th contest this evening, the most in the NHL. The Devils opened the season a week earlier, participating in the Global Series in Prague. Two victories against the Buffalo Sabres saw New Jersey get off to a hot start. That start has remained as they enter this evening at the top of the Metro with a 4-1 record.
The Devils came home and hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs, which upended them in a 4-2 defeat. They then went on a short road trip to our nation's capital to defeat the Capitals 5-3. Yesterday, the Devils defeated the red hot Utah Hockey Club at home by a score of 3-0 before heading to Raleigh. One more stop in Ottawa on Thursday for the Devils before heading back to New Jersey.
Brett Pesce and Stefan Noesen both signed with New Jersey this past summer and will return to Raleigh. Pesce will not be able to play due to an injury. He has yet to make his debut in a Devils uniform and did not make the trip to Prague. However, Noesen is the leading scorer for the road team this evening with 6 points and 2 goals.
Paul Cotter leads the team in goals with 4 and Seamus Casey leads all defensemen with 3 goals. Not the popular names on the leaderboard early, but the Devils still have Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Nico Hischier waiting to break out. A fan favorite, Erik Haula will have another opportunity to be serenaded with "boos" by the Lenovo Center crowd.
Tonight will be all about Kochetkov and his performance. The 25-year-old will have to shut down the explosive offense of the Devils while showing it is his crease moving forward.