The Hurricanes look to make it seven straight wins when they host the Flyers Tuesday night.
Carolina 8-2-0 enters the contest red hot, averaging over four goals per game in its current winning streak. The offensive production has a good chance of staying high against Philadelphia 4-7-1 who sits at last in the Metro Division.
Philly averages 3.67 goals allowed per game on the young season, a figure which likely has Martin Necas raring to get out on the ice. He earned the NHL’s Second Star of the Week this past week by racking up nine points in three games. His three points last time out against Washington extended his point streak to six games, tying his career high. He has a chance set a new best against a Flyers defense which most recently gave up three goals to the Bruins on Saturday.
Travis Konecny and Sean Couturier — the Flyers’ points and goals leaders, respectively — enter this game pointless in the last three outings. Philadelphia earned two of its three wins on the season during that span so maybe spreading the wealth is the way to go come game time. Scoring goals remains a tall order against the Canes, however, who 2.30 goals allowed per game ranks second best in the league.
This matchup features two top 10 penalty kills with Carolina and Philly ranking fourth and seventh in the NHL, respectively. The Canes hold the advantage in the power play department, ranking fourth compared to the Flyers’ 19th, but special teams goals may be hard to come by against those PK units.
This is the first of three meetings for the division foes this season and the only one in Raleigh. The Hurricanes travel to Philly later this month on the 20th and then again March 15.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at Lenovo Center.
