The Carolina Hurricanes experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on Tuesday night. They saw a two-goal lead slip away in the final minutes of regulation but bounced back with resilience, killing a crucial penalty in overtime and sealing the deal with two shootout goals to edge out the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in a pivotal divisional clash.
Since the Olympic break, the Hurricanes' offense has been on fire, lighting up the scoreboard with four or more goals in six of their last seven outings. Almost every skater has contributed, with just two players yet to record a point during this hot streak. However, the defense has been a different story, allowing four or more goals in four games, including the latest against the Penguins.
Looking at the St. Louis Blues
When the Hurricanes last faced the Blues in mid-January, it was a tough outing. The Canes, appearing fatigued in the second of back-to-back games, were shut out 3-0 as the Blues capitalized with three second-period goals against Brandon Bussi. Joel Hofer, the Blues' goalie, was flawless, stopping all 33 shots for his fourth shutout.
The Blues, hovering near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, were anticipated to be active at the trade deadline. They made some moves, trading former Hurricane Justin Faulk to Detroit and sending captain Brayden Schenn to the Islanders. Yet, they retained key players like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, and Colton Parayko exercised his right to veto a trade to Buffalo.
After their victory over the Hurricanes, the Blues hit a rough patch, losing eight of their last nine before the Olympics. Recently, however, they've shown signs of life, winning five of their last seven and earning points in their last five games. Their four-game winning streak ended on Tuesday when they blew a 3-0 lead and fell in overtime to Schenn and the Islanders.
Despite their struggles, the Blues boast young talent, particularly in net with Joel Hofer. Though he took the loss on Monday, Hofer made an impressive 45 saves. He's on a personal five-game point streak post-break, boasting a .948 save percentage, allowing just eight goals, and securing his fifth shutout.
Blues Players to Watch
Jimmy Snuggerud: A cornerstone of the Blues' future, Snuggerud has been stellar in his rookie season. Riding into Raleigh on a three-game goal and point streak, he's recorded multiple points in each of those games. He was instrumental in all three of the Blues' goals against the Islanders and found the net when the Canes visited in January.
Dalibor Dvorsky: Dvorsky impressed at the Winter Games in Milan, tallying three goals and six points for Slovakia. However, that momentum hasn't translated to the regular season, as he hasn't registered a point since January.
Hurricanes Players to Watch
Mark Jankowski: The fourth line has been making waves lately, with Jankowski breaking a goalless streak by scoring early in the third period of Tuesday's win. Whether or not he has a new winger tonight, expect more of the same energy from this group.
Mike Reilly: Flying under the radar, Reilly has quietly been effective, playing in nearly half of the team's games this season. Since rejoining the lineup in Calgary, he's contributed significantly, including sparking the scoring against the Penguins. He has points in three of his last six games, dating back to late December.