The Coyotes return home and will take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night (April 18) for its first game of a four-game homestand that spans seven days. It's the second of two meetings Arizona has with Carolina this season, and the first time they'll play each other since back on Oct. 31 (2-1 L). Puck drop with the Canes is set for 7 p.m.
PACK FACTS
Monday is the first time the Coyotes will host the Hurricanes since Feb. 6, 2020 (5-3 L). Arizona will be looking to end a four-game skid against the Hurricanes, but have played them at home just once in that span. The Coyotes have captured at least a point in four of their last six home games versus Carolina.
Shayne Gostisbehere picked up an assist in the Oct. 31 game and enters Monday with 15 points (4-11-15) in 20 career games versus the Hurricanes. His 0.75 points per game clip against them ranks eighth among all NHL defensemen since the start of 2015-16. Since entering the League, Gostisbehere's teams are 9-3-1 in the games against Carolina when he's found the scoresheet.
Karel Vejmelka stopped 37-of-39 Hurricanes shots in the Halloween matchup. The netminder has played in the last four Coyotes games and gotten the start in three of them. The Trebic, Czech Republic native is one start and one game shy of tying Eldon Reddick (1986-87) for the most by a rookie goaltender in franchise history.
Despite playing Carolina earlier this season, there are nine players on the Coyotes' active roster who have never faced the Hurricanes in their career. Among them, Jack McBain earned his first career NHL point with an assist last time out on April 16. He's the seventh player to register his first career NHL point with the Coyotes this season.
The Coyotes franchise is 32-38-8-5 all-time against the Hurricanes/Whalers.
A LOOK AT THE HURRICANES
Carolina (48-20-8, 104 pts) enters today neck-and-neck with the Rangers for the top spot in the Metropolitan. The Canes' forward duo of Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov both reached the 30-goal mark this season, while Aho's 76 points (35-41-76) are the in the ballpark of his career-best 83 set in 2018-19. Carolina will likely be without star goaltender Frederik Andersen, who was helped off the ice on Saturday and is awaiting an MRI. The Hurricanes have lost their last two games against the Central, but are 9-4-1 against the Division overall.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
Alex Galchenyuk: One point from 350 career NHL points.
Phil Kessel: Two goals from 400 career NHL goals.
Phil Kessel: One point from 950 career NHL points.
KEY CONNECTIONS
Ex-Coyotes
• Jordan Martinook (2014-18)
• Max Domi (2015-18)
• Tony DeAngelo (2016-17)
• Derek Stepan (2017-20)
• Antti Raanta (2017-21)
Ex-Hurricanes
• Cory Stillman (2005-08, 2010-11)
• Andrew Ladd (2005-08)
Travis Boyd played with Brady Skjei at the Univ. of Minnesota from 2012-15…Teammates with Frederik Andersen in Toronto for part of the 2020-21 season.
Jay Beagle skated with Tim Gleason in Washington in 2014-15.
Shayne Gostisbehere and Alex Galchenyuk won a gold medal with Vincent Trocheck on Team USA at the 2013 World Junior Championship, coached by Phil Housley.
Phil Kessel played with Ian Cole in Pittsburgh from 2015-18 and won back-to-back Stanley Cups together in 2016-17…Teammate of Tim Gleason in Toronto in 2013-14.
Nick Ritchie was teammates with Steven Lorentz on the OHL's Peterborough Petes from 2013-15…Also played with Tony DeAngelo on the OHL's Soo Greyhounds for part of the 2014-15 season…Played with Frederik Andersen in Anaheim for part of 2015-16.
Nick Schmaltz represented Team USA with Tony DeAngelo at the 2015 World Junior Championship.
Anton Stralman was teammates with Vincent Trocheck in Florida for part of the 2019-20 season.
Karel Vejmelka played with Martin Necas on the Czech Extraliga's Brno Kometa from 2016-18.
