Red Wings at Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes snapped a frustrating five-game losing streak last time out and look to put together back-to-back wins when they open a six-game homestand Saturday against the surging Detroit Red Wings. The Hurricanes managed just seven goals during a five-game winless streak (0-4-1) before building a four-goal lead early in the second period at Chicago on Thursday and holding on for a 4-3 victory.
“It wasn’t pretty at times, but it’s also nice to play with the lead,” Carolina defenseman Calvin de Haan told reporters after scoring his first goal of the season. “We grinded it out and ended up getting the two points, that’s all that matters, especially on the road and (in) one of the hardest buildings to play in in the league.” The Hurricanes outshot host Detroit 39-21 on Oct. 22 and posted a 3-1 victory, which started their last set of back-to-back wins, but the Red Wings are a different team after winning five of their last six contests. Detroit rallied from a two-goal deficit against the New York Rangers on Friday, tying the game with 2:02 left in the third period on a goal by Andreas Athanasiou before leading scorer Dylan Larkin scored in overtime for a 3-2 triumph. The Red Wings have netted a total of 21 goals over their last six games after recording the same amount while going 1-7-2 to open the season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Carolinas
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (6-8-2): Larkin leads the team with seven goals and 16 points while Gustav Nyquist is the only other Red Wing in double figures (14) after posting seven during his current six-game point streak. Athanasiou also notched an assist on Friday in his first game back after missing four with an undisclosed injury and Frans Nielsen set up one goal following a four-game absence due to a concussion. Jimmy Howard has won four straight starts after turning aside 30 shots in Friday’s win, but backup Jonathan Bernier could play due to the back-to-back.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (7-7-2): Sebastian Aho was kept off the scoresheet in three straight games before notching an assist Thursday to push his team-leading total to 18 points - six more than linemate Teuvo Teravainen. Scott Darling could make another start - former Red Wing Petr Mrazek (lower body) is questionable - after turning aside 35 shots in the victory over Chicago, causing coach Rod Brind’Amour to tell reporters: “He was solid. He was pretty calm in there.” Leading goal scorer Micheal Ferland (seven), who tallied against Detroit on Oct. 22, missed the third period Thursday due to illness and is questionable.
OVERTIME
1. Detroit LW Justin Abdelkader has scored four goals in his last six contests after opening the season with a 10-game drought.
2. Carolina LW Phil Di Giuseppe was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League on Wednesday and scored his first goal of the season against Chicago.
3. Red Wings LW Jacob de la Rose, who has recorded two points in seven games after being claimed off waivers from Montreal, left Friday’s game with an upper-body injury.