The Carolina Hurricanes (19-9-2) are gearing up to face the Philadelphia Flyers (16-9-4) at Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight at 7 PM in the first of a home-and-home series. The Hurricanes are displaying a strong performance lately, having won five of their last seven games, which includes a recent shootout victory over the Capitals that has kept them in contention for the Metropolitan Division lead.
Goaltender Brandon Bussi has been a standout player during this stretch, starting in all five victories and remaining off the ice during the losses, making him a key asset for the Canes as they look to extend their winning streak against an unexpectedly competitive Flyers team.
After finishing last in the Metro division in the previous season, the Flyers currently find themselves in fourth place with 36 points from 29 games. New head coach Rick Tocchet has reinvigorated the Flyers, guiding the young team despite a recent rough patch that saw them lose three of their last five games, including matches against top contenders such as the Colorado Avalanche and the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Trevor Zegras has emerged as a leading force for Philadelphia, registering 28 points in 29 games after transitioning from the Anaheim Ducks in the offseason. Travis Konecny follows closely with 25 points, maintaining his reputation as a dynamic player despite a dip in his goal-scoring rate compared to last season. Additionally, highly-touted rookie Matvei Michkov, selected seventh overall in the 2023 draft, is contributing as well, though he is experiencing a sophomore slump with just 16 points.
Defensively, the Flyers are anchored by veteran Travis Sanheim, who has accumulated 13 points this season. In goal, Dan Vladar, who joined the team from Calgary, has been effective with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage over 18 games.
As for the Hurricanes, they seem to have weathered the injury struggles that plagued them throughout November. However, they may still be without star defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who has yet to play since the second game of the season against these same Flyers. Although the morning skate did not reveal the starting goaltender for tonight’s game, it’s likely that Bussi will continue in net, especially given his impressive start to the season.
Overall, securing a win on the road against a young, promising Flyers team is crucial for the Hurricanes as they strive to solidify their position in the Metro division. Fans can catch the action on FanDuel Sports Network, or stream via the FanDuel Sports Network App and ESPN, with radio coverage on 99.9 The Fan. The game features odds favoring the Hurricanes at -166 on the moneyline and -1.5 at +146.