Preview: Hurricanes at Capitals
Metropolitan Division foes close out regular-season series
by Michael Smith @MSmithCanes / CarolinaHurricanes.com
WASHINGTON - The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals close out their four-game regular-season series in a Monday night Metropolitan Division match-up.
The Canes own a 2-1-0 record in the series and are riding three consecutive wins that closed out their season-long, seven-game homestand.
There's No Place Like Home
With a 2-0 shutout win over the Los Angeles Kings, the Hurricanes finished their longest homestand of the season with their third consecutive win and fifth in their last seven games. The Canes own a 15-8-0 record at home this season, with another five in a row at PNC Arena ahead on the schedule following two divisional tilts on the road.
"It's a great way to finish it off," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said.
The Canes sold out four of their seven straight games at home, averaging 17,755 during that stretch.
"They're a loud bunch," said James Reimer, who made 41 saves to earn his third shutout of the season on Saturday. "They give us a big boost."
Jaccob's Ladder
Defenseman Jaccob Slavin is set to play in his 349th consecutive game, which would tie Eric Staal for the second-longest ironman streak in franchise history.
Slavin also owns the seventh-longest active streak in the NHL, with the last time the Canes playing a game without Slavin in the lineup coming on Dec. 3, 2015 in a 5-1 loss to New Jersey.
The Last Meeting
The Hurricanes and Capitals squared off twice in the span of seven days during the Canes' seven-game homestand. The Canes opened the homestand with a 6-4 win over the Capitals, but Washington answered back with a 4-3 win the next week. In that game, the Canes rallied with three goals in the third period but fell just short in a comeback effort.
"It sucks losing still, but it is a prideful room," said Jordan Staal, who scored one of the three Canes' goals. "We don't like going away. We're going to fight until that horn goes. I thought the guys did a good job of pushing and fighting our way back into that game."
Video: CAR Recap: Dzingel, Hurricanes fall to Capitals
The Opposition
After beginning 2020 with three straight wins, which began with the aforementioned 4-3 final in Raleigh, the Capitals have dropped two straight within the Metropolitan Division to Philadelphia (3-2) and New Jersey (5-1). The Caps still sit atop the Metropolitan Division at 30-11-5 (65 points), and they own a 13-5-4 record at home.
WORTH A CLICK
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Podcast
Videos
- Highlights: CAR 2, LA 0
- Reimer's 41-Save Shutout vs. LA, Jan. 11
- Storm Surge: Brass Bonanza
- Brind'Amour's Postgame Speech, Jan. 11
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