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DEVILS (23-11-2) vs. HURRICANES (24-6-6)
Head-to-Head
The Devils and Hurricanes meet for the second time this season, and first in New Jersey. In the previous spar, Carolina triumphed, 4-1, on Dec. 20.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi opened the scoring just 20 seconds into the contest. The Canes also had goals from Jordan Staal, Teuvo Teravainen and Stefan Noesen. Jack Hughes tallied the lone Devils goal.
The Hurricanes and Devils rank Nos. 1 and 2 respectively in the Metro Division with 54 and 48 points.
Devils Team Scope:
The Devils broke their 1-6-1 slump with a 4-2 victory in Pittsburgh to close out the 2022 calendar year Friday night. New Jersey received goals from Hughes (2), captain Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 25 saves in the win.
Hughes picked up his 19th and 20th goals of the season against the Penguins, the team leader. He also paces the club with 41 points in 36 games. Hischier's goal was his 15th of the season, and he now has a career-high four game-winning goals this year. It was also his third-career shorthanded tally. Jesper Bratt, who is second on the team with 34 points, had an assist. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton had a two-point night Friday, his first (goal) also being his 400th-career point.
Vanecek allowed two goals to Pittsburgh. It was the 16th time in 24 games played where the Czech netminder allowed two or less goals in a game.
Hurricanes Team Scope:
The Carolina Hurricanes are the hottest team in the NHL at the moment. They won a franchise-record 10th straight game with a 4-0 victory against Florida on Friday night. They're 14-0-2 in the past 16 games, a franchise record point streak.
Carolina was 12-0-1 in the month of December for 25 points (a December franchise record and the second-most points in a single month: 26, January 2006, 13-1-0).
Martin Necas paces the Canes with 35 points. He has a four-game scoring streak (2g-3a). Andrei Svechnikov has a team-best 19 goals to go with 32 points. Defenseman Brent Burns leads the blue line with 22 assists and 26 points.
The Hurricanes' strength has been in goal. Antti Raanta has won six straight games and recorded back-to-back shutouts against Chicago and Florida (24 and 19 saves). Rookie Pyotr Kochetkov is 8-0-2 in his past 10 games and hasn't lost in regulation since Nov. 23.
By the Numbers:
Hamilton picked up his 22nd assist and 30th point of the year against the Penguins. In 62 total games last season for the Devils, Hamilton recorded 21 assists and 30 points.
Raanta has an active shutout sequence of 127:36 minutes.
Injury Updates:
Devils
John Marino (Upper-Body, week-to-week)
Ryan Graves (Lower-Body, day-to-day)
Jonathan Bernier (Hip - IR)
Ondrej Palat (Groin - IR)
Nathan Bastian (Upper-Body - IR)
Hurricanes
Anderson (Lower-Body)
Gardiner (Upper-Body)
Kase (concussion)
Pacioretty (torn Achilles)