2023-24 Regular Season, Game 52: Hurricanes at Dallas Stars (Pregame)

The Carolina Hurricanes celebrated Whalers Night on Saturday, turning the clock back to return to their roots. The fans in attendance were treated to all of the bells and whistles associated with the days in Hartford. On the ice, the Canes and Devils went to war. Pyotr Kochetkov and Vitek Vanecek went save-for-save for 60 minutes, with neither goalie allowing a goal in regulation. Both faced over 30 shots, but neither team was able to break through. With overtime being needed, the game opened up a lot. Kochetkov made two big stops on Tyler Toffoli, allowing his team to go the other way. Martin Necas' initial shot was stopped, but Sebastian Aho was there to bat the puck out of mid-air and into the net to secure the win. Kochetkov finished the night with 34 saves to record his second shutout of the season. 

The Opponent: Dallas Stars (32-14-6, 70 Points- 1st in the Central Division)

The Stars came close to reaching the top of the mountain last season, falling six wins short by falling in the Western Conference Finals to Vegas. They didn't do anything too drastic to improve in the offseason, but one of their biggest moves turned out to be one of their most important. After being bought out by the Predators, the Stars signed Matt Duchene to a one-year deal. This has proven to be an incredible signing as Duchene sits tied for second in points (48) and second in assists (30). The Stars are one of the deepest teams on offense in the league. They have six players with 40+ points, eight players with 20+ assists, and nine players with at least ten goals. Jason Robertson leads the team in points (52), while Roope Hintz leads with 22 goals. Their defense hasn't been as strong as I would've expected, though it has clearly been good enough to win games. Jake Oettinger's GAA is just below 3.00, but he and Scott Wedgewood have put together strings of wins. Dallas is going to be in a dogfight down the stretch with Colorado and Winnipeg for the Central Division crown. Three points separate the three teams, though there is plenty of hockey left to play.

Last Season's Meetings- The Canes needed overtime on both occasions, but they won both meetings last season. When they met in December for the first time, the Canes blew two two-goal leads. They jumped out 2-0 on goals by Stefan Noesen (PP) and Andrei Svechnikov, but Dallas responded with a pair of goals on the power play by Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn. Teuvo Teravainen scored his first of the season on the power play to put the Canes back ahead, and Seth Jarvis added to it, but Tyler Seguin and Jani Hakanpaa scored 1:42 apart to tie it again. In overtime, Svechnikov was denied his initial chance, but he found Martin Necas to finish the game in a 5-4 win. In January in Dallas, the Canes found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-1 game. Sebastian Aho opened the scoring with a short-handed goal, but Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson responded. Brent Burns tied the game in the second period, and that's where things stood after 60 minutes. Once again, Necas was there to be the hero. He scored his second overtime winner in as many games to help the Canes sweep the series.

Stories/Key of the Game

1. Recent Road Success for Carolina

To start the year, it didn't look like the Hurricanes were having any success on the road. While trips outside of Raleigh have been few and far between for the last month, the Canes are heading out for a three-game trip. After a slow start, the team has gone 7-0-1 in their last eight home game, dating back to mid-December. They've won their last five, including tough wins in Toronto, New York, and Boston. In those eight games, they've allowed 13 goals and they haven't allowed more than two goals in any of those contests. The Stars are a strong home team, entering tonight 16-8-2 in Dallas. 

2. Getting Svechnikov Going After His Injury

With his return on Saturday, Andrei Svechnikov has officially made his third return of the season. He has been limited to 30 games this season as his body continues to be beaten and bruised. He didn't find the scoresheet, though the rest of the team didn't either, outside of the three who contributed to the game-winner. He had one very good chance early in the game but was quiet for the rest of the night. I'll attribute it to getting his legs back under him. He'll need to be ready to go when they hit the ice tonight. The Stars aren't going to care that he's just coming back.

3. How Do You Slow Down the Stars?

Through three games after the break, the Canes have faced some of the most skilled teams in the league. That streak continues in Dallas tonight. I've already highlighted how amazing they are at putting the puck in the back of the net. They're third in goals per game, with everyone contributing. As the visiting team, the Canes won't be able to get the matchups they want, making life a little bit tougher. It's not just the forwards you have to worry about, either. Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley lead a strong defensive core that can put up points, too. Whoever starts in the net for the Canes tonight is going to have their work cut out for them.