Date: December 13th, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, N.C.
Overview
The Carolina Hurricanes (18-8-2) host the Ottawa Senators (13-13-2) at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. Both teams enter the game looking to establish consistency midway through the season. Carolina is aiming to solidify its position in the Metropolitan Division playoff picture, while Ottawa seeks to climb back into contention in the Atlantic Division.
Carolina Hurricanes: Season Snapshot
The Hurricanes have enjoyed success at home this season, boasting a 11-3 record at PNC Arena. They’re coming off a two game home winning streak as well, beating the Avalanche 5-3 and most recently the Sharks 3-2 fueled by a well rounded roster that excels in all three zone.
Key Players to Watch:
- Martin Necas: Necas leads the team with 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists) through 28 games. His ability to create offense both at even strength and on the power play makes him a critical piece of Carolina’s attack. Currently he is tied for 3rd in points this season and only 10 points back from his career high of 53 points from last season.
- Sebastian Aho: With 30 points (7 goals, 23 assists), Aho has been a consistent contributor for the Hurricanes, adding both scoring depth and defensive responsibility when he is on the ice, one of the true leaders in this locker room.
- Shayne Gostisbehere: The veteran defenseman has 25 points this season and is only playing on the 3rd pairing on the blue line. Gostisbehere offers solid play at both ends of the ice while also getting 1st unit powerplay time acting as the quarterback of the man advantage.
The Hurricanes success can be credited to their penalty kill ranked 3nd in the league at 84%, and their power play ranked 3rd converting at 28.3%, providing them with a critical advantage in the special teams matchups. The Hurricanes also hold onto the 4th best goal differential in the NHL at +22 and the 2nd best shot volume per game in the NHL at 32.25 shots per game.
Ottawa Senators: Searching for Consistency
The Senators have been a team of streaks this season, alternating between flashes of brilliance and frustrating lapses. Despite their struggles, they showed their offensive ceiling in their recent 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks rejuvenating this offence.
Key Players to Watch:
- Brady Tkachuk: The Senators captain has been a force again this season, tallying 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 28 games. His blend of physicality and scoring touch defines Ottawa’s style of play. Tkachuck lead the team in goals and has collected 8 of his 14 on the man advantage this season.
- Tim Stützle: Stützle continues to grow into his role as a franchise cornerstone, leading the team with 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists). His playmaking ability is crucial to the Senators offense with those 26 assists he’s tallied so far this season.
- Nick Jensen: With 11 points already this season Jensen is only 2 point back from the total he set last year. By no means do Jansens numbers scream “Superstar” but he has played a critical shut down role for this Senators team and carries a team leading +12 plus minus.
While Ottawa’s offense ranks 15th in the league at 3.11 goals per game, their penalty kill (75.6%, 24th in the league) has been a weakness they’ll need to address against Carolina’s lethal power play. Keeping the game close from the moment the puck drops will be crucial in order for the Senators to fight back and have a chance tonight.
Keys to the Game
- Special Teams Showdown
Carolina’s power play (ranked 3rd at 28.3%) and penalty kill (ranked 3rd at 84%)create a significant challenge for Ottawa, which has struggled to maintain discipline and limit penalties this season. The Hurricanes will look to exploit any lapses by the Senators to gain an edge in special teams play. Keep your eyes on the special teams to create separation in this matchup tonight. - Goaltending Matchup
Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to start for Carolina, bringing a .894 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average. His consistent play this season has helped the Hurricanes in this goalie mess they’ve found themselves in this season. Meanwhile, Ottawa will turn to Linus Ullmark tonight, who has provided solid performances despite the team’s defensive struggles. As the days progress the trade is looking like more of a win for the Senators than the Bruins. - Physicality and Puck Possession
Ottawa thrives on physical play, led by Tkachuk’s relentless forechecking. However, Carolina’s structured system and strong puck possession game could neutralize the Senators energy and tilt the ice in their favor.
Recent Form and Last Meetings
Carolina enters the game 2-3 in their last five contests, most recently defeating the San Jose Sharks in a close 3-2 battle. Ottawa is 3-1-1 over the same stretch but will look to build on their dominant performance against Anaheim earlier this week when they won convincingly 5-1 on home ice. The last time these two clubs faced off against one another was November 16th here in Carolina and the Hurricanes won that game with a shutout 4-0. With both teams looking to solidify their footing, tonight’s matchup promises to be an exciting battle between Carolina’s structure and Ottawa’s high energy and physicality.
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