PREVIEW: Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils
The Southeast Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes continue their five-game home stand against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (7 p.m., Hurricanes Radio Network). The Hurricanes scored a 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday and a 2-1 win against Columbus on Thursday to kick off the pre-holiday home stand. Following Saturday’s game,
Carolina will entertain Southeast Division rival Tampa Bay on Tuesday (7 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network) in a No. 1 versus No. 2 battle before wrapping up the home stand on Friday against Florida. Carolina currently posts a 20-9-2 record. With 42 points in their first 31 games, the Hurricanes are off to their best start in franchise history, eclipsing the previous first-31-games record of 39 points, accomplished in 1986-87.
Hurricanes center Eric Staal ranked tied for eighth in the league with 42 points through games of Dec. 15. Staal has notched points in 24 of the Hurricanes’ 31 games this season, and had a career-high 10-game points streak (10/20-11/11: 7g, 12a) prior to the Hurricanes’ Nov. 12 shutout loss against Atlanta. He ranked tied for third in the league with 21 goals and tied for first in the league with three shorthanded goals through games of Dec. 15.
CANES WIVES HOST TOYS FOR TOTS COLLECTION
The wives and girlfriends of the Carolina Hurricanes will host their first annual Toys for Tots collection on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the RBC Center when the Hurricanes host the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. The wives’ toy collection is being held in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps’ national Toys for Tots drive. Fans attending Saturday’s game are encouraged to bring new, unopened toys to the RBC Center. Hurricanes wives and representatives from the USMC Reserves, based in Raleigh, will be on hand at each gate to collect the toys. Fans donating toys will be eligible to win four lower-level tickets to an upcoming Hurricanes home game, a team-signed replica stick and a meet-and-greet with Hurricanes defenseman Aaron Ward. For more information regarding the Hurricanes wives’ Toys for Tots collection, please contact Michael King in the Hurricanes Community Relations Department at 919-861-5474.
The Carolina Hurricanes continue a five-game home stand on Saturday against New Jersey (7 p.m., Hurricanes Radio Network) and round off the home stand with games next week against
Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
The Carolina Hurricanes made the most of New Jersey's turnovers in the third period to win for the fifth time in six games.
Chad Larose scored his first NHL goal 1:59 into the third period and Eric Staal added his 22nd of the season 19 seconds later to lead the Hurricanes to a 4-1 victory over the Devils on Saturday night.
"It was a real good period for us in the third," Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said. "The guys came out and put our best foot forward in the last 20 minutes, which we needed to do. It was 1-1 going in there and there was a lot at stake."
Staal also had an assist to run his team-high point total to 44. He snapped a two-game pointless streak.
"By the time the third period comes around we're still working hard as a team and that is benefiting us," Staal said. "That'll wear on them."
Carolina won its third straight home game to remain in first place in the Southeast Division. The Hurricanes have outscored New Jersey 10-2 in two games this season.
Larose's goal was set up when Ray Whitney broke up the ice unimpeded and forced New Jersey goalkeeper Martin Brodeur out of the crease. Whitney circled behind the net and hit Larose, who put the puck past a diving Brodeur.
Rod Brind'Amour scored Carolina's first goal on a power play in the first period, his 13th of the season.
"All the opportunities they got were odd-man rushes," Brodeur said. "We had nobody back. They're very disciplined. They live on turnovers. They don't create much but when they come they come hard. The third period, the roof came down on us."
New Jersey tied the game at 11:53 of the second period on Aleksander Suglobov's first NHL goal. It was the Devils' first power-play goal in 10 games.
New Jersey lost for the fourth time in five games and has not won on the road since Nov. 25 at Tampa Bay.
"We turned the puck over and gave them scoring chances," New Jersey coach Larry Robinson said. "With the way were playing right now, we have to play a much more ultra-perfect game just to get our confidence going."
Carolina goalkeeper Martin Gerber (15-6-1) made 22 saves, while Brodeur (12-10-3) faced 25 shots.
Notes: New Jersey D Colin White had three of the Devils' seven penalties. ... Carolina scored its 37th power-play goal of the season. ... Carolina F Justin Williams recorded his 100th NHL assist on Brind'Amour's goal. ... Corey Stillman had three
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