Columbus Blue Jackets (15–8–1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (10-8-4)
TUESDAY, NOV. 28, 2017, 7 p.m. (NATIONWIDE ARENA)
The Canes haven't been world-beaters this season, but in the tightly-packed Metropolitan Division, they're certainly within striking distance of a wild card spot. With 24 points in 22 games, they're just five points behind the fifth-place Pittsburgh Penguins – but they have four games in hand. There's young talent in Raleigh, and it's finally starting to emerge.
This will be the third of four games the two teams have played, with the teams splitting the first two. That includes an overtime win for the Jackets, so the Canes have three out of four possible points from the Jackets so far this year.
You Oughta Know: Teuvo Teravainen
Blue Jackets bench boss John Tortorella said after the last meeting with Carolina that the Jackets got thoroughly out-skated, and Teravainen is a big part of that, notching two assists. That game was the start of a nice run for the flashy Finn, as he's on a white-hot 5-8-13 run over his last seven contests. Look for Teravainen's skill and skating to open up some space for his linemates tonight – and don't be surprised if he finds his way on the scoresheet once again.
Fast Facts
- Teravainen is the leading scorer on the club, but he's getting some stiff competition from another young Scandanavian star in Sebastian Aho, who has 18 points on the year.
- The Hurricanes are currently in a five-way tie for the fewest games played among NHL clubs this season. They'll have two more off days after tonight's game, then a stretch of three games in four days.
- The Canes are about to spend a lot of nights in hotels; they've got just three home games between now and Christmas – including one against the Jackets! – and nine on the road.
Previous Matchups
THIS YEAR: Third meeting (of four) – the teams split the first two.
ALL TIME SERIES: Columbus leads, 15-14-0-3.
Keys to the Game
ONE: Slow down their top line. Teravainen has been on fire lately, and Aho has been dynamic as well this season. Carolina is known for their defensive corps – and Jeff Skinner has some star power as well – but right now, that Teravainen line is hot.
TWO: Fast start! It took a while for the Jackets to get rolling last night in Montreal, and playing the Canes on a back-to-back is a tall task. Getting behind early – and trying to mount a comeback on tired legs – is a recipe for disaster.
THREE: Be ready. The Jackets have, at times, been plagued by slow starts this season, even when rested. They've been off since Tuesday, but so has their opponent. The Jackets need to come out of the gate and get on the board quickly – the speed and skill on this team can punish teams when playing from ahead.
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Sebastian Aho | 22 GP, 5-13-18 | 11 | Jordan Staal | 22 GP, 7-9-16 | 86 | Teuvo Teravainen | 22 GP, 8-13-21 |
| 53 | Jeff Skinner | 22 GP, 9-6-15 | 7 | Derek Ryan | 22 GP, 5-6-11 | 14 | Justin Williams | 22 GP, 4-13-17 |
| 23 | Brock McGinn | 21 GP, 5-6-11 | 49 | Victor Rask | 20 GP, 4-3-7 | 28 | Elias Lindholm | 22 GP, 6-6-12 |
| 42 | Joakim Nordstrom | 22 GP, 2-2-4 | 16 | Marcus Kruger | 21 GP, 0-4-4 | 19 | Josh Jooris | 16 GP, 3-2-5 |
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | Jaccob Slavin | 22 GP, 2-4-6 | 27 | Justin Faulk | 22 GP, 1-6-7 |
| 5 | Noah Hanifin | 22 GP, 3-9-12 | 22 | Brett Pesce | 19 GP, 0-3-3 |
| 6 | Klas Dahlbeck | 4 GP, 0-0-0 | 4 | Haydn Fleury | 21 GP, 0-4-4 |
| # | Player | GS | W-L-OL | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Scott Darling | 16 | 7-6-4 | 2.71 | .901 | 0 |
| 30 | Cam Ward | 6 | 3-2-0 | 3.03 | .907 | 0 |
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