Sunday night felt like a return to form for the Carolina Hurricanes. They finally broke back into the win column by frustrating the New Jersey Devils. Taylor Hall recorded a goal and an assist, Nikolaj Ehlers scored for his third straight game, and Brandon Bussi made 28 stops as the Canes finished their weekend with a 3-1 victory.
It was the first 60-minute effort the group had put together since Monday's overtime win over the Rangers. Otherwise, it was a tough week for the Hurricanes. However, on Sunday, the secondary scoring finally returned, the penalty kill was outstanding, and they got a goalie performance that helped everyone take a breath and realize the season might not be lost after all.
On the Other Side: Dallas Stars
Last meeting: The Canes closed their six-game road trip in October with a trip to Dallas. Jackson Blake and Sebastian Aho scored in the opening period, but the Stars rallied to score twice in the second and once in the third to win, 3-2. Two of their goals came on the power play, with the winner being at 5-on-3, and two of the three came courtesy of friendly fire against Brandon Bussi.
The Stars haven't had much luck since Christmas. They've lost their last five games entering tonight, with three of them coming in extra time, including a 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens on Sunday. Their second-place spot in the Central Division has been encroached upon by the Minnesota Wild, giving us a good fight to watch for the second half of the season.
Their offense is very top-heavy, led by the usual suspects. Mikko Rantanen is one of the league's top producers. Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston are each beyond 20 goals. Miro Heiskanen is one of the top-scoring defensemen in the NHL. Roope Hintz is also incredibly effective when he's healthy. No one else on the team has cracked 20 points this season.
Even with their recent rough patch, the Stars are one of the most dangerous teams on both sides of the puck. They're second in goals and third in goals per game. They are fifth in goals allowed per game, despite Jake Oettinger not being as dominant as he usually is. Both of their special teams units are in the Top 7. They're a team destined to go on a run. Let's hope it doesn't begin in Raleigh.
Stars to Watch
Mikko Rantanen: I focused on Rantanen during the first matchup because it was the first game since the Canes traded him to Dallas. Tonight, he's returning to Raleigh for the first time, and I'm very curious how the fans will respond. He's having a good season, and he continues to produce while the Stars struggle to find wins. This could get very interesting.
Miro Heiskanen: Both of the goals that Heiskanen scored against the Hurricanes in October came off friendly bounces. Still, they count all the same. There has been little slowing down Dallas' workhorse. While scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace this season, Heiskanen is also averaging over 26 minutes per night, third to only Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski.
Hurricanes to Watch
Taylor Hall: Sunday night was a big night for the former Devil, scoring a goal and adding an assist in the same building he called home when he won the MVP in 2018. After eight games without a point, Hall has found the scoresheet in his last two, becoming the seventh Hurricane to hit 20 points this season. I want to see what he'll do for his encore.
Sean Walker: While he wasn't credited with a point on the opening goal in Newark, Walker deserves a ton of credit for getting the puck to the net. It has been a while since he recorded a point, going ten without anything on the scoresheet, and 27 games since finding the back of the net. He's still finding ways to be helpful as he eats up minutes, but I think he's due for some scoring luck.