North Raleigh Today

The Carolina Hurricanes are set to begin a two-game road trip with a match against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, February 4. The game will commence at 8:00 p.m. ET and can be viewed on FanDuel Sports Network South or listened to via 99.9 The Fan.

Currently, the Hurricanes hold a record of 32-17-4, placing them second in the Metropolitan Division. Their last outing resulted in a 4-2 defeat against the Los Angeles Kings. Meanwhile, the Jets lead the Central Division with a record of 37-14-3 and recently secured an overtime victory over the Washington Capitals.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi initiated scoring for Carolina in their previous game, but they were unable to maintain momentum as Los Angeles scored three consecutive goals. Eric Robinson equaled his career high with his twelfth goal of the season during this match, while Brent Burns achieved a milestone by becoming the thirteenth defenseman to reach 900 points with an assist.

Carolina's penalty kill is currently leading the league at 86.3%, while Winnipeg boasts an NHL-best power play percentage of 33.3%. The Hurricanes have successfully defended against power-play goals in their last seven games, whereas Winnipeg has managed to score power-play goals in eight out of fifteen games played this year.

Kotkaniemi's recent performance includes seven points from five goals and two assists over seven games. He shares team leadership in points during this period alongside Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho.

In terms of goaltending, Pyotr Kochetkov might take up duties following Frederik Andersen's recent appearance. Kochetkov has been instrumental in securing points for Carolina across six straight games without conceding more than three goals since December 27.

Winnipeg stands out as one of the top teams this season, leading various statistical categories including goals per game and save percentage thanks to standout performances from players like Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is also noted for his impressive stats which include leading wins and shutouts.

Regarding injuries, William Carrier is expected to miss several months due to a lower-body injury sustained on January 4. Tyson Jost returned to practice after suffering a long-term injury at the end of December but remains non-contact for now.

Following Tuesday’s game, Carolina will continue their road trip with practice scheduled in Minnesota before facing off against the Wild on Thursday.