A new month is set to begin as the Carolina Hurricanes close their three-game homestand on Sunday afternoon. The Canes and the Winnipeg Jets will drop the puck for a matinee, and the home team hopes that things will stay as they were in October. The Canes have won three in a row and 11 of their last 13, entering November on a roll.
The Canes started well against Columbus on Thursday, chipping away before Jordan Martinook finally broke through late in the first period. Logan Stankoven added to it in the second period, and Mark Jankowski scored 16 seconds into the third to extend the lead to three. The Canes didn't play well for the final two periods, allowing Columbus to pull within one, but they held on for a 3-2 win.
The Hurricanes visited Winnipeg on October 17 to begin their State Fair road trip. Kochetkov gave the Jets a few gifts in the second period, allowing them to take a 2-1 lead midway through the frame. After Jesperi Kotkaniemi tied the game late in the second, Nikolaj Ehlers scorched his old team with a clapper on the power play early in the third, proving to be the difference in a 3-2 Carolina victory.
Behind Enemy Lines: Winnipeg Jets
There is a cloud hanging over the Jets right now, but it's not the one that has been hanging over them for months now. Winnipeg found a solution to their Connor Hellebuyck problem, finally finding a trade partner in the New Jersey Devils. It ended a long standoff before his team-imposed suspension came to an end. While it's nice to have that distraction gone, that's not Winnipeg's cloud.
The Jets haven't won a game since October 13. They've lost eight in a row, picking up just two points from overtime losses over the last three weeks. Winnipeg has lost some tight ones, dropping the first five games of this streak, including the contest with Carolina, by one goal. Raleigh is the third stop on a four-game road trip for the Jets, which concludes in Montreal on Tuesday.
Most of the Jets' offense continues to come from three players. Kyle Connor has 11 goals, tied for third in the league, and leads the team with 15 points. Mark Scheifele hasn't scored a goal since facing the Canes, but he has four assists in his last two games. Trying to spark his group, Scott Arniel split Connor and Scheifele last week, though it didn't lead to a victory against the Panthers.
Injury Report
Carolina: Taylor Hall is the only injured Hurricane who could return relatively soon, and he's still expected to miss a few games, according to Rod Brind'Amour. When he returns is anyone's guess. Otherwise, we're still waiting on Alexander Nikishin to be good after signing, and Jordan Staal should be back within the next month or so.
Winnipeg: Josh Morrissey is on the road trip with the Jets, though he's yet to play. It's an encouraging sign as he battles a wrist injury, though it remains unclear when he'll return. I doubt it'll be today, but I don't know that for sure. Vladislav Namestnikov is also out, dealing with an injury that he picked up during practice.
Players to Watch
Dawson Mercer: The central piece of the Jets' return for Hellebuyck is very familiar with the Hurricanes. Mercer made his team debut during the Heritage Classic last Sunday, and he has two assists in his first four games. Mercer has ten points in 19 regular-season meetings with the Canes, among his best production against any team.
Viggo Bjorck: Being 18 years old in the NHL can't be an easy thing. You're a rookie facing guys who've played this spot longer than you've been alive. Bjorck has played in all 14 of Winnipeg's games this season, and he's yet to record his first NHL point. With a month in the NHL under his belt, Bjorck is on the verge of breaking through, though I'd prefer that it weren't in Raleigh on Sunday.
Mark Jankowski: When he scored the tying goal on the power play in Winnipeg, Jankowski matched the team record for the longest goal streak with his sixth goal in as many games. It was the only stop on the trip that Jankowski played before returning home with an injury. He didn't score in his return against Boston, but Jankowski got right back to it against Columbus on Thursday.
Jaccob Slavin: Once he takes his first shift of the afternoon, Slavin will officially log his 800th game in the NHL. He'll become the fifth player in franchise history to reach that milestone, joining Ron Francis, Glen Wesley, and Eric and Jordan Staal. Slavin made his NHL debut on November 20, 2015, marking almost 11 years since suiting up for the first time. Scoring a goal would be the cherry on top.
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