2024-25 Regular Season, Game 46 Preview: Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights

The Carolina Hurricanes have dropped their last two contests, falling in Buffalo on Wednesday night after digging themselves into a 3-0 hole. Ryan McLeod scored 43 seconds into the game on the first shot against Dustin Tokarski to immediately force the Canes to chase. Dylan Cozens added to the deficit in the second period and McLeod put home his second of the game with 3.5 seconds left in the middle frame to send the Canes into the third down by three. Jaccob Slavin's bouncing shot eluded Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen early in the third to help start the Canes in the right direction. With just over three minutes left, Martin Necas unloaded a one-timer with the extra attacker on the ice to pull within a goal. The Canes didn't allow a shot in the third, yet the Sabres scored a goal. McLeod was awarded his third of the game after Brent Burns tomahawked and snapped his stick, preventing him from scoring into the empty net. The hat trick was the first of McLeod's career as the Sabres beat the Canes, 4-2. 

The Opponent: Vegas Golden Knights (29-12-3, 61 Points- 1st in the Pacific Division)

Last Meeting: The Hurricanes were in The Fortress during a three-game road trip in mid-November. While Vegas is one of the best home teams in the league, the Canes took it to them early and often. Eric Robinson opened the scoring early, redirecting Sean Walker's one-timer through Adin Hill's pads to open the scoring. Jesperi Kotkaniemi added to it by putting home his own rebound midway through the first. The captain joined the fun in the second period with a short-handed goal after Jordan Martinook's pressure forced the puck free into the slot. Tyson Jost scored his first as a Hurricane with his back to the shot, getting a friendly bounce off his leg to chase Hill and make it 4-0 after two periods. Jack Eichel broke the shutout early in the third period, squeaking a shot through Pyotr Kochetkov. Martinook scored into the empty net and while Ivan Barbashev scored a power-play goal late, the Canes cruised to a 5-2 win. Four Hurricanes had multi-point nights and Kochetkov made 30 stops in the victory. 

Since We Last Met: After suffering the rarest of home losses in mid-November to the Canes, the Golden Knights have done a lot of winning. They've won 20 of the 29 games since, losing back-to-back games just twice. The slight problem is that Vegas has lost three of its last four, including their last outing in Nashville on Tuesday. Right now, they're operating with a full staff after Ivan Barbashev returned to the lineup. Jack Eichel is tied for third in the league in assists (43) and eighth in points (54). Pavel Dorofeyev has turned into a scorer, entering the game with a team-high 19 goals and five goals in two games after collecting his first hat trick against the Predators. Adin Hill and Ilya Samsonov have provided a solid tandem in the net, backstopping Vegas to one of the lowest goals allowed per game in the league. They are a team that can get it done on both ends of the ice. They're just in a slight rut as they attempt to fend off the Edmonton Oilers at the top of the Pacific Division.

Stories of the Night

1. Home, Sweet Home

Carolina and Vegas are two of the best home teams in the league. With the Canes handing the Knights a loss when they visited in November, it must be on Vegas' mind to come in and spoil a Friday night in Raleighwood. Vegas is pretty good on the road, too, sporting an 11-6-3 record away from The Fortress. Their Achilles' heel has been the Metropolitan Division. Five of their 12 regulation losses have been to Metro teams, including back-to-back losses to the New York teams on home ice last week. The Canes have lost just six times on home ice in 23 games, and they'll be feeding off the home crowd on Friday night with a big-time opponent in town. 

2. The Second Line Needs a Big Game

In Vegas two months ago, the line of Eric Robinson, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Martin Necas was the team's best in the 5-2 win. Robinson and Kotkaniemi finished with a goal and an assist each, while Necas picked up an assist. They combined for 13 of the team's 34 shots, giving Adin Hill problems before he was pulled in the second period. If the Canes want to win tonight, I think this line needs to replicate that performance. Necas is starting to find his scoring touch again, while Robinson and Kotkaniemi have been fine but could find another gear. Assuming this trio is together to begin the game, I have high hopes for their night. 

3. Containing Eichel, Stone, and the Golden Knights

Mark Stone wasn't available for the first meeting, but he has been very good when he's in the lineup, producing at better than a point per game (39 points in 30 games). He's recorded nine points in the last seven games for Vegas, moving into second behind Jack Eichel for the team. Eichel has slowed down a little, recording just one assist in the last three games, but he's still a force to be reckoned with. Vegas owns one of the Top 5 offenses in the league and the Canes' defense has been a concern over the last few losses. Something will have to break tonight.