Kings at Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes attempt to complete a monster seven-game homestand with five victories when they go for a season sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night. Petr Mrazek, who blanked the Kings in the Golden State 2-0 on October 15, turned aside 32 shots for his third shutout of the season Friday as the Hurricanes knocked off Arizona 3-0 while getting a point from nine different players.
“We have great depth,” Carolina center Lucas Wallmark told reporters after scoring for the sixth time in 11 games Friday. “Every line can score and play (well) in the (defensive) zone. That’s our strength.” Mrazek (17-10-2) isn’t likely to get back-to-back starts as coach Rod Brind’Amour said the Hurricanes have a lot of hockey to play in the next few weeks, so backup James Reimer (9-6-0) is expected to be between the pipes probably against Jonathan Quick, who was rested in Thursday’s 5-2 win at Vegas and hopes to snap out of a 1-5-0 slump. Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory over the Golden Knights as the Kings posted four unanswered goals in the first period - including the first of two from forward Adrian Kempe. “You can’t say enough about our start,” Los Angeles goalie Jack Campbell told reporters after making 44 saves. “When we score first, it’s amazing how well we can play.”
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS West, FS Carolinas
ABOUT THE KINGS (18-24-4): Forward Alex Iafallo looks to extend his point streak to 10 contests after recording four goals along with six assists in the last nine outings and center Jeff Carter hopes to snap a six-game point drought. Captain Anze Kopitar tops the team in goals (16) and points (40) after posting one and three, respectively, the past three contests while fellow forward Tyler Toffoli has registered three goals and three assists over the past half-dozen games. Alec Martinez notched his first goal of the season in the win at Vegas and fellow defenseman Ben Hutton added his second of the campaign.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (26-16-2): The top four scorers on the team are within three points of each other as right wing Andrei Svechnikov recorded an assist in the victory over Arizona to take the lead with 42. Teuvo Teravainen was held off the scoresheet for the third straight game Friday, leaving him at 41 points, and defenseman Dougie Hamilton had an assist versus the Coyotes to reach 40 - and 299 for his career. Forwards Warren Foegele, 23, and Martin Necas, 20, each reached the 10-goal plateau Friday while Sebastian Aho leads the team with 23 - none of them in the last four contests.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles D Drew Doughty (six goals, 26 points) has been kept off the scoresheet in his last four games and is slated to play his 899th in the NHL on Saturday.
2. Veteran Carolina F Justin Williams, who signed as a free agent Tuesday, does not have a timetable for his return to the lineup.
3. The Hurricanes will wear throw-back Hartford jerseys on "Whalers Night" against the Kings on Saturday.