The Hurricanes kick off their road trip with their annual trip to the Shark Tank

As the State Fair gets set up ahead of its Thursday start, the Canes hit the road for the first time this season, preparing for their first of six straight.
San Jose Sharks v Carolina Hurricanes
San Jose Sharks v Carolina Hurricanes | Jared C. Tilton/GettyImages

The Carolina Hurricanes begin a season-long six-game road trip on Tuesday night, starting their California saunter with a trip to the bay against the San Jose Sharks. The Canes started their season with a pair of division wins over the Devils and the Flyers on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, with the latter being particularly exciting.

Seth Jarvis provided the game-winner in overtime to down the Flyers, 4-3, but it might've come at a cost. Jaccob Slavin didn't play during the final few minutes of regulation and the entirety of overtime, with the news on Monday that he was still being evaluated. With Pyotr Kochetkov already out for a week, it makes the road trip a little tougher for one of the league's last unbeatens.

On the Other Side: San Jose Sharks

No team has found more entertaining ways to lose games than the San Jose Sharks through two games. In their season opener, they lost in one of the most bizarre ways possible, giving up a 6-on-5 goal from center ice before Alex Nedeljkovic's misplay gave Reilly Smith an open net to score into. Then, on Saturday, they lost a 7-6 barn burner in overtime to the Ducks.

Every point matters, but it feels like the Sharks have already left two on the table, even for a team that isn't expected to be in the playoff hunt. Still, this is a very interesting team. They have several young stars, anchored by Macklin Celebrini, William Eklund, Will Smith, Sam Dickinson, and Michael Misa. They're bound to be the core of this team for many years to come.

With low expectations as they try to finish their rebuild, the Sharks signed several veterans to short-term deals this offseason. If things go south, as many expect will happen, they can flip them at the trade deadline to pick up a few more picks. It feels like they're in a decent spot, with only a few more years before they're threatening to be legitimate playoff contenders.

Last Season: The Hurricanes won both meetings last season, but both were very tight games. The Sharks led in both games, leading 2-1 in Raleigh after 40 and 1-0 after 20 in San Jose. On both occasions, the Hurricanes scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, with Jalen Chatfield securing a 3-2 win at home and Sebastian Aho breaking the tie in an eventual 3-1 victory on the road.

Sharks to Watch

Michael Misa: It has been confirmed that the 2nd pick in this year's draft will make his NHL debut on Tuesday with the Canes in town. While it's a cool hockey moment, it's still business as usual for the visitors. Misa is a dynamic playmaker with a wicked shot and great hockey IQ. He's going to be a big part of the Sharks' youth movement and eventual return to the playoffs.

Jeff Skinner: Through his first two games in San Jose, Skinner is the only Shark with multiple goals, scoring in each of their contests. With a goal in their opener, the former Hurricane reached the 700-point plateau, becoming the second player from the 2010 class to do so (Seguin). He has performed well against his former club throughout his career, scoring seven goals and 13 points in 15 games.

Hurricanes to Watch

Mike Reilly: With Slavin likely out tonight and Charles Alexis Legault getting the call-up, I suspect we'll see Reilly make his Hurricanes debut in San Jose. Reilly brings a decade of NHL experience to the lineup, playing with several teams over that stretch. He skated with Jalen Chatfield at Monday's practice, indicating that could be the direction the team goes on Tuesday.

The starting goalie: Instead of going with a specific player, I'm looking at the position at large. Rod Brind'Amour indicated on Monday that Brandon Bussi would more than likely get a start, so could this be the night we see it? Or will Frederik Andersen get his third straight start, leaving Bussi's potential debut for Thursday in Anaheim?

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