Nov 13, 2024; Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, USA; Carolina Hurricanes middle Jack Drury (18) passes the puck in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership through the third interval at Delta Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Rob Grey-Imagn Pictures Scoring has been a shortcoming for the Utah Hockey Membership and the Carolina Hurricanes the previous couple of weeks.
Fixing that will likely be essential for each groups once they meet Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes, who will likely be of their ultimate recreation previous to a two-week layoff, have misplaced three consecutive video games for the second time this season, so they’re hoping to keep away from their first four-game skid of the season.
In Thursday night time’s 2-1 loss at Minnesota, the Hurricanes held a 38-24 benefit in pictures.
“We definitely deserved to get one thing out of that,” coach Rod Brind’Amour stated. “That is form of the best way it is gone for us all 12 months.”
Utah, which has a fast turnaround Sunday in Washington earlier than it begins the break within the NHL schedule, has gained two in a row since a five-game dropping streak. Each of these optimistic outcomes had been 3-2 selections in additional time, together with Thursday night time at Columbus.
“Whenever you’re in these conditions extra typically, you get extra comfy and extra assured,” Utah ahead Dylan Guenther stated. “We’ll be in loads of these (shut video games) shifting ahead.”
Guenther has three targets, together with a pair of OT winners, in two video games since returning to motion following a few month off due to a lower-body damage.
Nonetheless, Utah has gone seven consecutive video games with out scoring greater than two targets in regulation.
Carolina rookie ahead Jackson Blake stated his group’s current dip in scoring is irritating, however he seems towards the Utah recreation as an opportunity to treatment a few of the points.
“We have to capitalize, myself included,” Blake stated. “I’ve received to seek out methods to place it within the internet. We have solely scored one aim within the final two video games. That is not going to win you very many hockey video games. We have simply received to discover a means.”
Ahead Sebastian Aho has scored 4 targets within the final six video games for Carolina, together with the lone tally in Minnesota.
Because the starting of January, Carolina is 2-for-46 on energy performs.
“Our energy play stinks. I am going to simply depart it at that,” Brind’Amour stated. “We have to discover a approach to rating some targets. I do not know what the reply is. We’re definitely placing up good alternatives, we have simply received to complete.”
Lack of manufacturing on particular groups has been carrying on the Hurricanes.
“One of many issues we have simply received to get dialed in is our particular groups,” defenseman Jaccob Slavin stated. “Our kill did job, however energy play, we have got to bear down there and get some targets. Quite a lot of instances, that is the distinction within the recreation.”
The Hurricanes have used varied lineup combos lately, even going with 11 forwards in a current recreation. Defenseman Scott Morrow was out of the lineup Thursday.
Utah is 14-10-3 in highway video games.
Utah gained 4-1 in opposition to Carolina at residence in mid-November, with Nick Bjugstad scoring two targets. The Hurricanes received a aim from Martin Necas, who now performs for the Colorado Avalanche.
Bjugstad has 5 targets this season, however just one within the final 19 video games.
–Area Stage Media
