The Carolina Hurricanes are hotter than the sun right now, and they're taking their hot streak on the road with them to begin their five-game State Fair road trip. The group has won six in a row after back-to-back season-opening losses, so they're feeling pretty good about where they sit at the moment. They're also enjoying a perfect 4-0-0 start on the road.
It has been three days since the Canes played a game, hosting the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night as part of the NHL's Frozen Frenzy. The group fought back from a pair of one-goal deficits, with Andrei Svechnikov scoring the go-ahead goal, his second of the night, on the power play late in the third. He had three points, and Pyotr Kochetkov made 20 stops, in a 4-2 win over their division foes.
The Canes and the Jets faced off twice, exactly one week apart, last November. Winnipeg hosted the first meeting, with former Jet Nikolaj Ehlers playing his first game against his old squad. He set up Svechnikov for the game-winner in the third period to win it, 4-3. Winnipeg's own Seth Jarvis recorded a hat trick a week later in Raleigh to pace a 5-1 win and earn the season sweep.
Behind Enemy Lines: Winnipeg Jets
All of the headlines in Winnipeg have centered around Connor Hellebuyck this offseason, and they'll continue to until the team trades him. They don't seem to want him around at the moment, and I have to respect that decision. However, that story is overshadowing a start that has been fairly good for the Jets, especially in a tough division.
The Jets come into today's contest at 4-1-2, fighting back from a 3-1 deficit to force overtime before falling to the Blackhawks, 4-3, on Thursday. They're working with a new goalie room in Hellebuyck's absence, with Stuart Skinner (free agency) and Clay Stevenson (waivers) making up the new tandem. It appears that their waiver claim will get the start in the net, if Friday's practice is any indication.
Most of the goal scoring has run through two players, with Kyle Connor (8) and Cole Perfetti (5) combining for 13 of Winnipeg's 21 goals. Alex Iofallo is the only other player with more than one. Still, the Jets have found ways to win big games against division foes early in the season, so this will be another big test for a team hoping to completely turn it around after a down year.
Injury Report
Carolina: Jordan Staal is out for at least a month with a lower-body injury, while Taylor Hall is likely to miss a few weeks with an upper-body injury. This opens up some chances for a few rookies to enter the lineup. Meanwhile, Seth Jarvis might be back soon as he joins the team on the road trip, but he won't play tonight since he hasn't been cleared yet.
Winnipeg: The Jets are operating without top defenseman Josh Morrissey after he suffered an upper-body injury on October 7. While initially day-to-day, his status was downgraded to week-to-week on Thursday. Vladislav Namestnikov is also week-to-week after an injury at practice earlier this week.
Players to Watch
Kyle Connor: As one of the sharpest snipers in the league, it should come as no surprise that Connor is among the league's best early in the year. He's second in the league with eight goals and is tied for the league lead with four on the power play. Connor paces the Jets with 11 points and enters tonight's contest on a four-game goal streak.
Neal Pionk: Without Morrissey in the lineup, Pionk gets an immediate boost as the Jets' most reliable option on the blue line. Pionk is fourth on the team with six points, five of which have come in the Jets' last two games. He'll be tasked with running the team's top power play, which is one of the best in the league. Pionk will be on the ice a lot, playing nearly 24 minutes per night.
Bradly Nadeau: For his first game with the Canes this season, Nadeau is set to join the team's second line and get time on the second power play. This is a huge opportunity for him, which is why I have him among my players to watch during this trip. Nadeau had three goals with the team last season, and this elevated look should give him more chances to make his mark.
Shayne Gostisbehere: His stat line might not be the greatest indicator of it, but I've really liked the start that Gostisbehere has put together. He works well with Mike Reilly, but he isn't getting the type of point production I would've expected. Gostisbehere has two goals, both game-winners, and three assists, with four of his five points coming on the power play.
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