The Carolina Hurricanes have grown quite familiar with Western Conference teams this season, facing seven in a row in one stretch, and will welcome two more to North Carolina this weekend.
After a lackluster outing earlier this week, the Hurricanes will try to get back on track Friday night against the Vancouver Canucks in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes had a four-game winning streak snapped with Tuesday night’s 4-1 home setback to the Washington Capitals.
“Tough turnovers all over the ice,” Carolina forward Sebastian Aho said. “We’ve just got to be better.”
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said the setback to a division rival carries the same value as other games, including the one against the Canucks.
“Every game is two points and we’re trying to take every game as they come,” Brind’Amour said. “Every game has kind of its own little nuance, but at the end of day it’s two points we’ve got to try to win.”
Linemates Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven were praised by Brind’Amour for keeping the Hurricanes within striking distance against the Capitals.
The Canucks, 5-4-0 away from home, will play three road games in a four-night span. Vancouver is coming off a 1-2-1 homestand, losing 5-3 to Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Defense has been a concern for the Canucks, who’ve allowed at least four goals in five of their last six games. It has been almost a month since Vancouver has won by more than a one-goal margin.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko’s availability is unclear after he left Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury. Kevin Lankinen would likely fill in if Demko can’t go Friday.
“We have a good goalie tandem, so it is what it is,” coach Adam Foote said. “Guys are going to miss games. Guys are going to get injured.”
Vancouver has been hurt by ineffective penalty killing during the past week, while the Hurricanes have struggled on power plays.
“We’ve got to keep working on it,” Foote said of his club’s special teams. “Overall, the kill was better. We’ve got a lot of new faces killing.”
Vancouver center Teddy Blueger might not play on the road trip because of an undisclosed injury, Foote said.
The Hurricanes might have needed a couple of days off following three games in a four-night stretch. They’ll be looking to fine-tune areas after a variety of mishaps against Washington.
Carolina has started to get its defensive corps back together. Shayne Gostisbehere returned from a midsection injury Tuesday, registering an assist.
“We need it,” Brind’Amour said of another veteran presence. “With all the injuries we have, we’ve got guys who certainly know how to play and at a high level. … He probably needs some time to get up to where he was.”
Goalie Frederik Andersen left in the third period Tuesday when he was pulled by the concussion spotter. That puts his status in question for later this week, though the Hurricanes have been using three goalies in a rotation so he probably won’t be in net Friday.
Carolina will look to take advantage of back-to-back home games — with a Saturday matchup vs. Edmonton — because after those, the team will embark on a four-game road trip.
