Preview: Whalers Night vs. New Jersey

RALEIGH, NC. - The Carolina Hurricanes are set to celebrate their annual Whalers Night on Saturday, as the New Jersey Devils come to Raleigh for an important Metropolitan Division matchup.

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When: Saturday, February 10

Puck Drop: 7 p.m. ET

Watch: Bally Sports South, Bally Sports App

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

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Canes Record: 29-16-5 (63 Points, 2nd, Metropolitan Division)

Canes Last Game: 5-2 Win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, February 8

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Devils Record: 25-21-3 (53 Points, T-5th, Metropolitan Division)

Devils Last Game: 5-3 Loss to the Calgary Flames on Thursday, February 8

Last Time Out

• Martin Necas stole the show on Thursday night, scoring three times in the opening 16:52 for his first NHL hat trick. Albeit things got a bit hairy at the end of the first period after Colorado scored twice in seven seconds, Necas' three would have been enough. Michael Bunting recorded a power play goal in the second period and Seth Jarvis got an awarded goal in the third to close out a 5-2 game.
• Pyotr Kochetkov earned the win in net, despite being pulled after his late first period error. But after Antti Raanta entered in the relief for the second period, he got injured, forcing Kochetkov back between the pipes for the third.

Fly, Marty, Fly

• Since returning from an upper-body injury on January 19, Necas now has seven goals in seven games. With 16 total on the season, he sits tied for second on the team with Teuvo Teravainen, slotting behind only Sebastian Aho’s 18.

Tasty Teuvo

• Of the five goals scored on Thursday, Teuvo Teravainen assisted on four of them. A career-high and the most by any Canes player in a single game this season, #86 now has nine points in his last five games.

Six Seth

• Jarvis' third period on Thursday moves his point streak to six games.  Tied for the longest by any Canes skater this season with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, he is now just one shy of matching a career-long.

Ready, Svechy?

• Andrei Svechnikov has missed the last six games due to an upper-body injury but could be making his return this evening.  The 2023 All-Star was in a regular jersey at Friday's limited practice, graduating out of a no-contact sweater.
• Rod Brind'Amour said earlier this week that they'd been taking the cautious approach with the winger who is battling his third injury this season, but when Svechnikov says he's 100% ready, he'll be in.

In Net

• Thursday was a weird night between the pipes for the Canes. Kochetkov was in, then out, then in again after Raanta got hurt. With no update available on Friday regarding Raanta, it feels safe to say that tonight's tandem will be Kochetkov and Spencer Martin.
• Kochetkov has started the team's last two games, but given that he has had some struggles in the two games since the break, perhaps the coaching staff will try to get him to put together a full 60-minute effort this evening.
• On the other hand, maybe Kochetkov gets the night off and Martin will be able to make his first start since January 24. Looking sharp in a win over the Boston Bruins, that has been Martin's only game with the Canes thus far after being claimed on waivers on Friday, January 19.

On The Other Side

• The New Jersey Devils have been brutally bothered by injuries all season long. Jack Hughes, who has missed 16 games already this season, returned to the lineup on Thursday for the group. With 45 points in his 33 contests, the 2019 first overall selection continues to emerge as one of the league's brightest superstars.
• The team's power play ranks inside the top 10, but over the last month they've not quite been as potent. Just 7.7% since January 10, the team is 4-6-1 during that time.
• Goaltending has been a big challenge for the team all season long, with both Nico Daws and Vitek Vanecek posting sub-.900 save percentages.

Injury Updates

• Goaltender Frederik Andersen has been sidelined since the team announced on November 6 that he is dealing with a blood clotting issue. He resumed skating one-on-one with Goaltending Coach Paul Schonfelder on February 4.
• Forward Andrei Svechnikov suffered an upper-body injury on January 19 in the team's win over Detroit. He has taken part in every practice since Sunday but in a yellow no-contact sweater. Rod Brind'Amour said on February 6 that whenever the winger feels 100%, he'll be back in the lineup.
• Goaltender Antti Raanta suffered a lower-body injury on Thursday, February 8. There was no update available on him from Rod Brind'Amour on Friday.
• Defenseman Brett Pesce has missed one game due to illness. There was no update available on him from Rod Brind'Amour on Friday.

What Are We Wearing?

• The team will be wearing their Whalers sweaters. A complete uniform schedule for the season can be found here.

Additional Game Information

• Coming to tonight's game? Save $15 on parking by purchasing in advance. Click here to buy.
• Want to remember tonight forever? Purchase a commemorative ticket here.

What's Next After This Game?

• The Canes are scheduled to practice on Sunday and Monday before heading to Dallas, Arizona, and Las Vegas for a three-game trip.

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