2023-24 Regular Season, Game 16: Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Pregame)

The Carolina Hurricanes return to PNC Arena on Wednesday night and will be there for the next little bit after playing 11 of their first 15 games on the road. After a decisive loss to the Florida Panthers on Friday night, the Canes responded with their best road performance of the season in Tampa Bay. An early fight between Tanner Jeannot and Michael Bunting set the tone for the team. Teuvo Teravainen buried his ninth goal shortly after on the power play, and it was all Carolina from there. Sebastian Aho secured his second point of the night on a goal in the second period to double the lead. Goals in the third by Brent Burns and Stefan Noesen put the game away. Pyotr Kochetkov, making his first NHL start since losing to the Bolts on October 24, stopped all 22 shots Tampa threw at him, resulting in a 4-0 shutout win, the fifth of his career. The Canes have won six of their last eight games since a three-game losing streak to end the six-game road trip in late October. 

The Opponent: Philadelphia Flyers (7-7-1, 15 Points- 6th in the Metropolitan Division)

Last Meeting- The Hurricanes and Flyers met on Halloween Eve in Philadelphia for the first of four meetings this season. The Canes started on fire, getting an early tally from Stefan Noesen as Andrei Svechnikov picked up his first point of the season. Despite 15 strong minutes, things fell apart for the Canes in the final five. Owen Tippett and Garnet Hathaway scored just over three minutes apart to take a 2-1 lead into the second period. The Canes thought they'd responded early in the second, but Jack Drury's goal was called back after being deemed offside. However, they did get it back on the power play a few minutes later, courtesy of a blast from Michael Bunting. Frederik Andersen and Carter Hart went save-for-save in the third period, but Teuvo Teravainen put Carolina ahead in the final four minutes, helping them earn a 3-2 road victory. 

Since We Last Met- Philadelphia's loss to the Canes was their second in a stretch that would see them lose five of six, dropping them to 5-7-1. The low point of their season was a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on November 7, giving the Sharks their first win of the season. The Flyers have been dealing with their fair share of injuries at the beginning of the season, and while I don't think they'll get any of their defenders back when they come to Raleigh, they're set to get stronger in the coming weeks. After their loss to San Jose, they turned it around with wins on back-to-back nights in Anaheim and Los Angeles. They did it without Carter Hart in the net, who missed the weekend with an illness. Like the Hurricanes, the Flyers are getting contributions from their entire lineup, led by 14 points from Travis Sanheim and nine goals from Travis Konecny. 

Stories of the Night

1. National Television

Maybe it's just me, but I let out a sigh whenever I see a Hurricanes game on national television. Such was the case when I realized this one is. Hurricanes fans have been upset in the past when the team doesn't get national games. I've always been the opposite. I prefer locally televised games. I've always preferred the local broadcast to the national one. I don't know what the reason is either. The game has a different feel. Last season was a mixed bag. Across TNT, ESPN, and ESPN+, the team went 6-4-0. They played great games against Buffalo, Florida, Tampa Bay, and Washington. They also suffered heartbreak against Detroit, got shut out by Nashville, and blew a lead against New Jersey. One of the games against Philly was on ESPN+, and the Canes needed a little luck to get the job done. I only feel good about national games after they end. The same goes for this game. 

2. The Defense is Looking Good Finally

When the Hurricanes finished their six-game road trip, the defense was a mess. They'd allowed the most goals in the league through seven games, with their goalie trio looking dire and their new additions to the defense struggling to acclimate. In their last eight games, the defense has looked lightyears better, leading to a 6-2-0 record. While the offense has slowed down a bit, they haven't needed to save the team. The Canes are tied for the fewest goals allowed per game since October 25 at 2.00 per game. The penalty kill has also been much better, killing 91.3% in the same span. They were able to overcome the games Brett Pesce missed, with Brady Skjei and Dmitry Orlov leading the charge. It has also led to success for the goalies. Frederik Andersen had been great before his injury, Antti Raanta has filled the void with a 2.23 GAA and a shutout in four starts, and Pyotr Kochetkov picked up a shutout in his first start back. This is the team we'd hoped to see from the start, but better late than never. 

3. Hart Returning to Form?

With the Flyers struggling the last few seasons, a lot of the focus has turned to goalie Carter Hart. The Flyers haven't made the playoffs since 2019-20. It perfectly matches the last time Hart had a great season. During the COVID-shortened season, Hart went 24-13-3 with a 2.42 GAA and .914 SV%, guiding the Flyers to the 2nd Round, where they lost to the Islanders in seven games. Since then, Hart has failed to keep his GAA below 2.90. Injuries have played a part in it, but he's starting to show flashes of brilliance this season. He currently sits with a 2.52 GAA and a .913 SV% in eight starts. He's missed the last few games with an illness, so it's not guaranteed that he'll play tonight, but he will be the key for the Flyers if they hope to sustain their success.