2023-24 Regular Season, Game 49: Hurricanes vs. Vancouver Canucks (Pregame)

It has been a long time since the Carolina Hurricanes have been on the ice as a team. With the league pausing for the All-Star Break, most of the team spent time on vacation or with their families while Sebastian Aho was in Toronto representing the team. The last time they played, it was still January. They were at PNC Arena against the Arizona Coyotes following back-to-back wins over the Bruins and Devils. The Coyotes got on the board first when Dylan Guenther's initial shot was stopped by Antti Raanta but hit Logan Cooley before going into the net. The Canes' power play came through in the second period as Martin Necas finally got one past Connor Ingram to tie the game. From this point, it was all Carolina. Over the final two periods, the Canes outshot the Coyotes 32-3, including 18-0 in the third period. Ingram was playing like a brick wall, denying every chance the Canes threw at him. It took a magical shot from a tough angle by Dmitry Orlov with 35.9 seconds left to take the lead. Jesper Fast scored 13 seconds later to add to their lead as the Canes entered the break with three straight wins. 

The Opponent: Vancouver Canucks (33-11-5, 71 Points- 1st in Pacific Division)

Last Meeting- The first meeting came while the Canes were on their long six-game road trip. It was their fourth stop on the trip, having lost all three games prior to arriving in Vancouver. Sam Lafferty opened the scoring in the first period. Ilya Mikhayev made it 2-0 early in the second period, but Jordan Martinook responded 29 seconds later to cut Vancouver's lead in half. JT Miller made it a two-goal lead again with 6:14 left. Brady Skjei gave the Canes some hope in the final minute of the period, scoring on the power play to make it 3-2 going into the intermission. Stefan Noesen evened it up 2:10 into the third period. Elias Pettersson needed about 90 seconds to get the Canucks back in front, scoring one that felt like it probably should've been stopped by Antti Raanta. This would be the difference in the game as the Canes dropped their fourth straight game.

Since We Last Met- Outside of the Oilers, who are on a ridiculous winning streak, the Canucks have the second-best points percentage in the league since December 10, after these two met in Vancouver. The Canucks are 15-2-4 in their last 21 games, scoring 3.76 goals per game. They continue to be one of the most lethal offenses in the league. JT Miller is tied for fourth in the league in points, while Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are also in the Top 10. Brock Boeser has surpassed 30 goals. Pettersson isn't far behind with 27. Hughes, who leads all defensemen in points, is third in the league in assists, and Miller is tied for fifth. They're also getting world-class goaltending from Thatcher Demko. He's 13-1-1 in his last 15 starts with three shutouts. He's sixth in the league overall in GAA and save percentage while tying for the lead with five shutouts. They're the best team in the Western Conference coming out of the break, with a solid case to be the team advancing out of the West in a few months. 

Stories/Keys of the Game

1. The Post-Break Gauntlet

After rolling into the break with a three-game winning streak, this is not an easy way to get going again. Their first week back features home games against the Canucks, Avalanche, and Devils. Next week, they're hitting the road to face the Stars, Coyotes, and Golden Knights. Of their first nine games post-All-Star Break, only one game is against a team currently below .500. This is going to be a grueling part of their schedule, but this is arguably the healthiest the team has been in a long time. Pyotr Kochetkov is ready to go. Andrei Svechnikov, who has missed the last few games, has had the entire break to heal and should be close to returning. The only player out will likely be Frederik Andersen, and he's starting to get back on the ice. The next few weeks will be telling as to how much of a threat the Hurricanes really are. 

2. Two of the League's Hottest Teams Battle

While I've highlighted how hot the Canucks are right now, the Hurricanes aren't far behind. The Canes have the third-best points percentage in the league since losing in Vancouver, going 14-3-4 over their last 21 games. Sebastian Aho is tied for sixth in the league in points since December 10. They're sixth in goals per game while allowing the fourth-fewest per game, beating out the Canucks. They have the best power play and the best penalty kill. The Canes are now two points back of the Rangers with a game in hand. They are on a roll right now, and there's no denying this is a much better spot for them to be in.

3. Lindholm's First Game as a Canuck

Before the teams paused for the All-Star Break, there was one last piece of news that broke on Wednesday night that could have major implications for the rest of the season. The first major domino of trade season fell as the Canucks acquired Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames for an impressive package headlined by Andrei Kuzmenko. Lindholm, a former Hurricane, is a pending UFA, and the trade didn't come with an agreed-upon extension, meaning he's acting as purely a rental for now. It was funny to see him in a Canucks jersey at the All-Star Game. He provides even more depth to a team that is already teaming with excellent players. It's fitting his first game as a Canuck is coming in Raleigh after starting his career here.