A few weeks into the season, the Carolina Hurricanes might be getting closer to the level at which they were expected to play.
They’ll search for more signs of that when the Buffalo Sabres, who also have reasons to be encouraged, visit for Tuesday night’s game in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes completed a three-game road stretch by collecting four of a possible six points.
“We obviously wanted to get all six, but coming out with four, we’ll take it,” defenseman Jalen Chatfield said. “We’re going to take what we did positively. We’re going to carry that into the next game.”
Carolina capped the recent stretch with Saturday night’s comeback from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the New York Islanders in overtime.
“I loved the way we played (well for the most part),” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I even commented in between periods that if we could keep playing that way, win or lose, that’s just how we have to do things.”
Goals from Chatfield and Dmitry Orlov gave the Hurricanes half their goal production from defensemen in the Islanders game. It was the first goal of the season for both players, perhaps especially important for Orlov, a team newcomer.
“A big weight off his shoulders,” Brind’Amour said.
The Sabres are coming off Saturday’s 6-4 victory at Toronto.
Buffalo coach Don Granato was particularly encouraged by Alex Tuch, who scored two third-period goals.
“It was the first night you got a feeling of Alex Tuch finally starting to be Alex Tuch, finally getting to his game and asserting some dominance in moments,” Granato said. “He’s going the right direction so we certainly look forward to him getting back to that.”
JJ Peterka has a five-game points streak for the Sabres. He had a goal and an assist Saturday night.
“That’s gained experience,” Granato said. “The best I’ve seen him yet.”
Buffalo will need to know more about forward Dylan Cozens’ status after using 11 forwards and seven defensemen in the Toronto game. Cozens missed the game with an upper-body injury, sitting out for the first time this season.
Carolina will be without goalie Frederik Andersen indefinitely. The team announced Monday that medical testing revealed a blood clotting issue. The Hurricanes likely will turn to Antti Raanta to start Tuesday; they signed veteran Jaroslav Halak on a free agent tryout and are expected to promote Pyotr Kochetkov from the American Hockey League.
The Hurricanes might have other roster decisions to make after forward Michael Bunting missed Saturday’s game because of personal reasons. Brendan Lemieux filled Bunting’s spot in the lineup.
This is a rare home game for the Hurricanes, who’ve played nine of their first 12 games on the road. Their next two games come later this week at Florida and Tampa Bay.
The Sabres are 3-2 in road games, including two straight victories.
This marks another return to Raleigh for Jeff Skinner, a former Carolina standout who’s now in his sixth season with the Sabres after his first eight NHL seasons with the Hurricanes. Skinner is Buffalo’s co-leader this season in goals (six) and points (11).
The Hurricanes won two of three meetings with Buffalo last season. That included the lone matchup in Raleigh.
–Field Level Media
