North Raleigh Today

The Carolina Hurricanes are set to begin a three-game road trip with a match against the Washington Capitals in Washington, D.C., on Friday night. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcasted on FanDuel Sports Network South and its app, while radio coverage will be available on 99.9 The Fan and the Hurricanes App.

The Hurricanes currently hold a record of 20-10-1, placing them third in the Metropolitan Division with 41 points. They come off a decisive 4-0 victory over the New York Islanders, with Pyotr Kochetkov stopping all 32 shots for his ninth career shutout. Sebastian Aho contributed one goal and one assist, while Shayne Gostisbehere added two assists.

In their previous encounter this season, Dmitry Orlov scored twice leading to a 3-2 win for the Canes at Lenovo Center. Jordan Martinook has been notable recently, scoring in consecutive games and achieving his highest point total through 31 games in his NHL career.

Carolina's penalty kill has been effective since November 30, maintaining an impressive streak of not allowing any goals this month. Their power play also shows strength with six goals out of twenty attempts.

For goaltending duties tonight, Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to start after his recent performance unless Dustin Tokarski takes over following his strong debut against Columbus.

Washington's Dylan Strome stands out this season with 38 points in 31 games. The team averages nearly four goals per game and benefits from Logan Thompson's solid goaltending record.

Regarding injuries, forward Jack Drury is sidelined for at least four weeks due to a hand injury sustained earlier this month. Goaltender Frederik Andersen remains out following knee surgery announced last month, and Jesper Fast was ruled out for the entire season back in August.

After facing Washington, Carolina will have a day off before playing against the New York Rangers on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.