The Carolina Hurricanes are feeling it right now. Winners of four straight, the Canes earned a big comeback victory on Sunday night, completing their weekend back-to-back with a 5-4 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canes erased a two-goal deficit with three unanswered goals, with Logan Stankoven providing the game-winner late in the third.
The Canes lost another defenseman in Sunday's win when Charles Alexis Legault cut his hand on a skate following a skirmish. There is hope that Shayne Gostisbehere, who skated with the team at practice at Saturday's morning skate, could be close to returning, though we won't know his status until the morning skate on Tuesday after the team took Monday off.
On the Other Side: Washington Capitals
It was a quiet offseason for the Capitals. Then again, when you comfortably win the Metropolitan Division and record the best record in the Eastern Conference, you must feel pretty good about where your team stands. Outside of an extension for Martin Fehervary, the Capitals held their ground, icing a very similar team again this season.
While the team remains in place, the start hasn't been nearly as good for Washington this time around. Their offense hasn't been clicking, putting them at 7-7-1 through 15 games. Their power play is barely better than Carolina's, which is very telling. Tom Wilson leads the way with nine goals and 16 points, while five others are already in double digits in points.
The real story has been Logan Thompson, who I believe should have the inside track on the Canadian Olympic starting job in the net. He has allowed just 16 goals in ten starts, posting a league-best 1.61 GAA, but he's just 6-4-0. He's lost three of his last four starts despite allowing just seven goals in those four starts. It doesn't help that he's gotten three goals of support in those three losses.
Last season: The home team emerged victorious in all four meetings during the regular season, with the Canes owning a 5-4 points advantage with a shootout loss in D.C. The real battle came in the postseason, where the Hurricanes bested the division champion Capitals in five games behind an incredible series performance from tonight's projected starter, Frederik Andersen.
Capitals to Watch
Alex Ovechkin: It's not just because he recently became the first player to score 900 goals in the regular season. With the Canes and the Capitals set to meet just three times this season, this is the only time the Capitals are scheduled to visit Raleigh. This could be the final time Ovechkin faces the Canes in the building where he was selected by the Capitals in 2004.
Connor McMichael: With Pierre-Luc Dubois expected to miss the next 3-4 months, McMichael will need to step in and fill the void left at 2C. McMichael has just one goal and four points through 15 games, and only one assist in his last seven, so he's due for a breakout. McMichael had one goal in five postseason games against the Canes, and he has five points in 13 regular-season meetings.
Hurricanes to Watch
Whoever the 6th defenseman will be: It's unclear who will take Legault's spot in the lineup, and not holding a practice on Monday doesn't make things clearer. It seems like it'll be either Shayne Gostisbehere, making his return to the lineup, or Gavin Bayreuther, who the team called up ahead of their weekend back-to-back and would be in line to make his Hurricanes debut.
Eric Robinson: After a good game in his return on Saturday against Buffalo, scoring the game-winning goal early in the third period, Robinson had a quiet game on Sunday in Toronto. The Canes will need all four lines to be in the fight against the Capitals, including the hard-working 4th line, with Robinson's speed leading the way.