The Carolina Hurricanes are finding a variety of ways to rack up points, and it doesn’t matter to them so much how it happens as long as it continues.
They go for a slice of team history when they face the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes matched a franchise record with a 13-game points streak after winning 4-3 in overtime Thursday night at Pittsburgh. Carolina, which has won its past seven games in the 11-0-2 stretch, topped the Penguins twice in a five-day span.
“We’ve been resilient, for sure,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “The depth on this team has really shined through. We’ve been just staying with it and trusting our game.”
The Flyers have alternated losses and wins across their past five games, including a 4-3 road defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday afternoon.
“I thought our offensive guys struggled through a lot of the game,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “A lot of our offensive guys have to get better.”
Tortorella called out center Morgan Frost, saying he was “brutal for most of the game” despite scoring a goal.
The Flyers have shown a knack for bouncing back.
“All year, you look at our group, we’ve never quit, never just packed it in,” Philadelphia left winger Joel Farabee said, noting the team’s two third-period goals Thursday that cut a three-goal deficit to one. “It definitely gives you a little confidence, but you don’t want to be in that situation every game.”
Goalie Samuel Ersson is on the trip with the Flyers because Felix Sandstrom didn’t travel due to an illness. If Tortorella decides to give goalie Carter Hart a night off Friday, Ersson would make his NHL debut.
The circumstance would be challenging, facing a sizzling Carolina team that tied the game in Pittsburgh on Staal’s third-period goal.
“They don’t get flustered,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said of his players.
Friday’s matchup marks the return to Raleigh of defenseman Tony DeAngelo, who played one season with Carolina before he was traded to Philadelphia in July. He has five goals and 11 assists this season, including one of each on Thursday, but his minus-15 rating is far below the plus-30 he recorded with the Hurricanes.
Three of DeAngelo’s goals have come on power plays, including his tally at Toronto.
The loss of DeAngelo from the roster was eased when the Hurricanes added defenseman Brent Burns, who secured his 800th career point with an assist at Pittsburgh.
“It’s always nice to contribute, so it doesn’t really matter what it is,” Burns said. “Coming to a new team, you want to have a good start and put the right foot forward.”
Defenseman Jaccob Slavin’s goal 23 seconds into overtime gave the Hurricanes their latest victory.
Carolina defenseman Jalen Chatfield scored his first career goal in the first period.
“He brings such a great attitude every day when he comes to the rink,” Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce said.
The Hurricanes likely will go back to rookie goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, who sat out while Antti Raanta played on Thursday.
The Carolina defense could be impacted by the status of Brady Skjei, who missed the Thursday game because of personal reasons. Dylan Coghlan was added to the lineup in his place, and he registered his first two assists of the season.
–Field Level Media
