Tonight, on Veterans Day, the Carolina Hurricanes face off against the Washington Capitals at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. This is the first of several theme nights for the Hurricanes, with this one being Military Appreciation Night.
The Hurricanes enter the game with a record of 11-4-0, sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division. Their recent form has been impressive, boasting a four-game winning streak. In their last outing, they overcame the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-4 victory. The Capitals, meanwhile, are struggling to find consistency, holding a 7-7-1 record and occupying the seventh spot in the division. They have only managed one win in their last seven games.
Carolina's offense has been a key factor in their success during their winning streak, scoring 18 goals in the last four games. The power play has also found its rhythm, converting in three of those four games. Several players are riding individual point streaks, including Sebastian Aho, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Seth Jarvis, all with points in each of the last four games. Jarvis has been particularly impressive, reaching the 10-goal mark in just 15 games, the second-fastest Hurricane to do so in the last 15 years. Seth Jarvis is expected to be in the lineup.
The Washington Capitals have struggled to generate offense recently, scoring only 16 goals in their last seven games and converting on just 5% of their power plays. While Alexander Ovechkin's scoring pace has slowed compared to last season, Tom Wilson has been a key offensive driver for the team, amassing five points in his last five games.
The Hurricanes and Capitals faced each other in the playoffs last season, with Carolina winning in five games. In regular-season matchups, the Hurricanes have dominated, winning seven of the last eight games.
Defenseman Charles Alexis Legault is expected to miss 3-4 months after undergoing surgery on his hand. Shayne Gostisbehere will return to the lineup after missing six games with a lower-body injury.
The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network South, and fans can listen on 99.9 The Fan and the Hurricanes App. For fans looking to stream the game, it will be available on ESPN+.
