March is here, and with it comes a four-game road trip for the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes have returned from the break smoothly, earning wins over Tampa Bay and Detroit at home on Thursday and Saturday in a pair of big tests for the team. Taylor Hall, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Jackson Blake led the effort offensively against the Red Wings, a 5-2 win for Carolina.
This week marks the final trip to the West Coast during the regular season for the Hurricanes this year, taking them to Seattle tonight before three straight games north of the border. Before the trip concludes, the Hurricanes will see the trade deadline pass. With streaks they're looking to extend, this feels like a massive tone-setting tilt for the Canes.
On the Other Side: Seattle Kraken
Last meeting: The Kraken made their lone trip to Raleigh in mid-January. Logan Stankoven and Matty Beniers traded goals in the first period, and Berkly Catton gave Seattle the lead early in the third. Jordan Martinook potted the tying goal in front of the net midway through the period. Then, Jaccob Slavin's shot hit William Carrier's skate for the game-winner in a 3-2 Carolina triumph.
Since losing in Raleigh, the Kraken have played close to .500 hockey, going 8-7-1 over their last 16 contests. However, their play recently has been much better, winning seven of their last 11. It has Seattle sitting in the second Wild Card spot out West. With as wide-open as the Pacific Division has been this season, it's not crazy to think that the Kraken can finish in the top three.
Seattle has also been very good at home recently, defending home ice successfully in five of their last six tries, including Saturday night in a 5-1 victory over Vancouver. It was their first home game in almost a month, and the Hurricanes are the second of six visitors during their ongoing homestand. They'll need to keep this up if they want to make the playoffs.
Goals have been hard to come by for the Kraken at times this season, with just one 20-goal scorer and a bottom-ten offense. However, they're making up for it by ranking in the Top 10 defensively. Joey Daccord continues to be solid, and Philipp Grubauer has been one of the league's best bounce-back players this season. His .914 save percentage is sixth in the NHL.
Kraken to Watch
Jordan Eberle: On a team starving for goals, you need your best players to be exactly that to have any chance of winning. After a quiet few games, Eberle scored twice and added an assist in the team's win on Saturday. He paces Seattle with 22 goals and 41 points and has three multi-point efforts in his last nine contests.
Kaapo Kakko: I'm sure it hasn't been the season that Kakko wanted, struggling to stay healthy and not seeing much production overall. However, things have been rolling recently, scoring points in three of the last five games and playing well in Milan at the Winter Olympics. Winning bronze with Aho and Team Finland, Kakko had three goals and five points in six games.
Hurricanes to Watch
Seth Jarvis: Even with a limited schedule in February, Jarvis found plenty of ways to be productive for the Hurricanes. He recorded points in four of the team's five games, including three points in two games since the Winter Games. Jarvis picked up his 20th assist on Saturday, marking his fifth straight 20-assist campaign, and his third straight 20-20 season.
William Carrier: Being in the right place at the right time helped Carrier earn the game-winning goal when these two met in January. Recording an assist against Detroit, Carrier snapped a four-game drought, and he hasn't found the back of the net in over a month. It would be nice to see him repeat his success against the Kraken in Seattle.