The Carolina Hurricanes are riding high as they prepare to face the Buffalo Sabres this afternoon at 1:30 PM. With a record of 30-15-4, the Hurricanes have showcased exceptional performance lately, dominating their last two games. On Friday, they overwhelmed the Florida Panthers in a stunning 9-1 victory and followed that up with a solid 4-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, thanks to a remarkable hat trick from Andrei Svechnikov. Currently, the Hurricanes lead the Metropolitan Division by seven points, fueling confidence within the team.
The Sabres, boasting a record of 26-16-5, have also seen a turnaround since parting ways with general manager Kevyn Adams on December 15. Under new leadership, Buffalo has amassed an impressive 12-2-1 record, featuring a remarkable seven-game winning streak. The season series between the Hurricanes and Sabres is currently split, but it’s evident that Buffalo has transformed from what teams faced earlier in the season.
Tage Thompson has been a driving force for the Sabres during this hot streak, recording nine goals and a total of 21 points in just 15 games. Overall this season, Thompson leads the team with 25 goals and 50 points in 47 games. Complementing his efforts are Alex Tuch and Josh Doan, who have contributed 17 and 15 goals, respectively.
On the defensive side, Rasmus Dahlin continues to impress, demonstrating the skill that made him the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. With 34 points in 43 games, he is a standout performer in Buffalo’s defensive lineup.
In goal, the Sabres have faced challenges, as starting goalie Alex Lyon has missed the last nine games due to injury. Although Lyon practiced on Sunday, backup Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start today. Luukkonen has struggled recently, with a 3.40 GAA and .896 save percentage over his last five outings.
The Hurricanes will need to focus on generating offensive opportunities and getting pucks on net to maintain their momentum against the resurgent Sabres. The status of defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere remains uncertain as he is day-to-day after missing the last two games, while forward William Carrier is also listed as day-to-day after sitting out four games.
For the Hurricanes, Brandon Bussi, who made an impressive 15 of 16 saves in his last outing, is likely to guard the net, aiming for his 18th victory of the season.
As excitement builds for this matchup between two electrifying teams, fans can tune in to watch the game at 1:30 PM on TNT, stream it through HBO Max or listen via radio on 99.9 The Fan. With both teams in strong form, this clash promises to be an electrifying contest worth watching.