The Carolina Hurricanes come into Sunday afternoon with a chance to keep their October momentum rolling into a new month, and they’ll do it against a Winnipeg Jets team still searching for its first win in weeks.
Carolina closes out its three-game homestand after beating Columbus 3-2 on Thursday. The Hurricanes built a 3-0 lead on goals from Jordan Martinook, Logan Stankoven and Mark Jankowski, then had to survive a late push when the Blue Jackets cut the margin to one. It wasn’t clean for the final two periods, but the result gave Carolina its third straight win and 11th in its last 13.
The Canes also already have a win over Winnipeg in hand. When these teams met in Winnipeg on October 17 to open Carolina’s State Fair road trip, the Hurricanes escaped with a 3-2 victory. Winnipeg led 2-1 midway through the second period after Pyotr Kochetkov handed them some chances, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi tied it late in the frame and Nikolaj Ehlers buried a power-play blast early in the third against his former team to decide it.
Winnipeg arrives in Raleigh in a rough stretch that has nothing to do with the long-running Connor Hellebuyck situation, which finally ended with a trade partner in the New Jersey Devils. The bigger issue is the skid on the ice.
The Jets haven’t won since October 13 and have dropped eight straight, collecting only two points through overtime losses over the last three weeks. The first five losses in the streak, including the one against Carolina, came by a single goal.
This is the third stop on a four-game road trip that finishes in Montreal on Tuesday.
A lot of Winnipeg’s offense still runs through the same names. Kyle Connor has 11 goals, which is tied for third in the league, and he leads the club with 15 points.
Mark Scheifele hasn’t scored since the game against the Hurricanes, though he’s picked up four assists in his last two outings. Scott Arniel tried splitting Connor and Scheifele last week in search of a spark, but it didn’t produce a win against the Panthers.
Carolina’s injury picture remains relatively light. Taylor Hall is the only injured Hurricane who could return sooner rather than later, but Rod Brind’Amour said he still expects Hall to miss a few games. Alexander Nikishin is still waiting to be good after signing, and Jordan Staal should be back within the next month or so.
Winnipeg is still monitoring Josh Morrissey, who is traveling with the team but has not played yet while dealing with a wrist injury. Vladislav Namestnikov is also out after getting hurt in practice.
There are a few individual storylines worth watching. Dawson Mercer, the centerpiece of Winnipeg’s return for Hellebuyck, is no stranger to Carolina.
He made his team debut in last Sunday’s Heritage Classic and has two assists in four games since then. Against the Hurricanes in regular-season play, Mercer has 10 points in 19 meetings.
Viggo Bjorck is still waiting for his first NHL point, but the 18-year-old has already played in all 14 of Winnipeg’s games this season. He’s been in the league for about a month now, and the breakthrough feels close.
Jankowski, meanwhile, keeps finding ways to matter. His tying power-play goal in Winnipeg matched the franchise record for the longest goal streak at six straight games. An injury kept him out of the rest of that trip, and he was held off the board in his return against Boston, but he got back on track against Columbus.
And then there’s Jaccob Slavin, who will hit a major number the moment he takes his first shift. Sunday will be his 800th NHL game, making him the fifth player in franchise history to reach that mark, alongside Ron Francis, Glen Wesley, and Eric and Jordan Staal. Slavin made his NHL debut on November 20, 2015, nearly 11 years ago, and a goal would make the milestone even sweeter.
In Other News...
Kochetkov Is Finally Giving The Hurricanes What They Waited For
Pyotr Kochetkovs start to the 2026-27 season has been exactly the kind of stability the Hurricanes have been waiting to see from him. Through his first nine starts, he has been a steady force in net, backing Carolina to a strong opening run while posting a .919 save percentage and a 1.66 goals-against average.
What makes it even more notable is the path he took to get here. After missing most of last season while recovering from hip surgery, Kochetkov has returned looking more composed and more confident, and coaches and teammates have noticed the difference. For a team that has long believed in his talent, this stretch feels like the payoff for all the patience. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Hit A Defining Week As Early Slide Starts To Feel Serious
Winnipegs early-season stumble has been made harder by the kind of injuries that can quietly reshape a roster before it ever finds its footing. The Jets are 4-7-3, and the absences have touched both ends of the lineup, with key names missing from the blue line and forward group as they try to stop the slide from turning into something more lasting.
The road trip ahead offers little room to ease into a reset, especially with Carolina waiting as part of the schedule. Winnipeg is still trying to recover its defensive structure and transition game without one of its top blueliners, while the loss of depth up front has narrowed the options even further. For a club already looking for traction, this trip may say a lot about how long the early-season problems can be managed before they start to define the year. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Just Sent A Message With Their Most Complete Win Yet
The Hurricanes were in control from the opening puck drop and never gave Winnipeg a chance to settle in, rolling to a 7-0 win that looked every bit like their most complete performance of the season. Logan Stankoven led the way with three points, and Carolina piled on in the second period to turn the night into a runaway long before the final horn.
Sean Walker was right in the middle of the offensive surge, and the defenseman kept popping up in dangerous spots as the margin kept growing. The Jets had already been forced to turn to another goalie early in the second period, and Carolina kept pressing from there, leaving the bigger question not about the result but about how quickly this version of the Hurricanes can carry over when the competition stiffens. [Read more 🡒]