RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes sit atop the Metropolitan Division, and on Sunday they get a visit from a team going the other way. The Winnipeg Jets come to Lenovo Center without a win in their last eight games as Carolina goes for its fourth victory in a row.
Carolina is 11-2-2 with 24 points and has won 11 of its last 13. The latest was a 3-2 decision over Columbus on Thursday, when Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 24 shots and ran his record to 9-0 to start the season, breaking the franchise mark for a season-opening win streak that Frederik Andersen set at eight in 2021-22. Goals came from Martinook, Stankoven and Jankowski that night, with Seth Jarvis setting up two of them.
The Hurricanes are expected to dress the same lineup as Thursday, with Nikolaj Ehlers skating alongside Stankoven and Jackson Blake. Jordan Staal is out with a torn calf and Taylor Hall remains sidelined with an upper-body injury.
Sunday also marks a milestone for Jaccob Slavin, who is set to play his 800th NHL game. The defenseman already holds franchise records among blueliners with 255 assists and 311 points, and he becomes just the fifth player to reach 800 games with the Hurricanes and Whalers, joining Ron Francis, Jordan Staal, Glen Wesley and Eric Staal.
Winnipeg is 4-7-3 and seventh in the Central Division. Opponents have scored five times against Winnipeg in three straight games, including a 5-2 loss at Florida on Friday, and did not practice Saturday. Kyle Connor, the team leader with 11 goals, still poses the biggest threat. Carolina won the first meeting 3-2 in Winnipeg on Oct. 17 on an Ehlers goal against his former team.
It is Kids Day at the arena, with visiting team mascots signing autographs before the game. The Hurricanes then head to Nashville to face the Predators on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
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