Nov 13, 2024; Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, USA; Carolina Hurricanes middle Jack Drury (18) passes the puck in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership through the third interval at Delta Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Rob Grey-Imagn Photos Scoring has been a shortcoming for the Utah Hockey Membership and the Carolina Hurricanes the previous couple of weeks.
Fixing that can be essential for each groups after they meet Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes, who can be of their closing recreation previous to a two-week layoff, have misplaced three consecutive video games for the second time this season, so they’re hoping to keep away from their first four-game skid of the season.
In Thursday night time’s 2-1 loss at Minnesota, the Hurricanes held a 38-24 benefit in pictures.
“We actually deserved to get one thing out of that,” coach Rod Brind’Amour mentioned. “That is form of the best way it is gone for us all 12 months.”
Utah, which has a fast turnaround Sunday in Washington earlier than it begins the break within the NHL schedule, has gained two in a row since a five-game dropping streak. Each of these optimistic outcomes had been 3-2 choices in time beyond regulation, together with Thursday night time at Columbus.
“While you’re in these conditions extra typically, you get extra snug and extra assured,” Utah ahead Dylan Guenther mentioned. “We will be in a number of these (shut video games) shifting ahead.”
Guenther has three targets, together with a pair of OT winners, in two video games since returning to motion following a couple of month off due to a lower-body harm.
Nonetheless, Utah has gone seven consecutive video games with out scoring greater than two targets in regulation.
Carolina rookie ahead Jackson Blake mentioned his staff’s current dip in scoring is irritating, however he seems to be towards the Utah recreation as an opportunity to treatment a few of the points.
“We have to capitalize, myself included,” Blake mentioned. “I’ve acquired to seek out methods to place it within the web. We have solely scored one objective within the final two video games. That is not going to win you very many hockey video games. We have simply acquired to discover a method.”
Ahead Sebastian Aho has scored 4 targets within the final six video games for Carolina, together with the lone tally in Minnesota.
Because the starting of January, Carolina is 2-for-46 on energy performs.
“Our energy play stinks. I will simply depart it at that,” Brind’Amour mentioned. “We have to discover a solution to rating some targets. I do not know what the reply is. We’re actually placing up good alternatives, we have simply acquired to complete.”
Lack of manufacturing on particular groups has been carrying on the Hurricanes.
“One of many issues we have simply acquired to get dialed in is our particular groups,” defenseman Jaccob Slavin mentioned. “Our kill did an excellent job, however energy play, we have to bear down there and get some targets. Plenty of occasions, that is the distinction within the recreation.”
The Hurricanes have used numerous lineup combos lately, even going with 11 forwards in a current recreation. Defenseman Scott Morrow was out of the lineup Thursday.
Utah is 14-10-3 in street video games.
Utah gained 4-1 in opposition to Carolina at house in mid-November, with Nick Bjugstad scoring two targets. The Hurricanes acquired a objective from Martin Necas, who now performs for the Colorado Avalanche.
Bjugstad has 5 targets this season, however just one within the final 19 video games.
–Area Stage Media
