The Ducks host the Hurricanes for the first time since October 2019. Anaheim is 8-2-0 in its last ten games against Carolina and 12-7-1 overall on home ice against its Eastern Confernece opponent.
Despite dealing with injuries to several key players early in the season, the Hurricanes opened the new campaign with nine straight wins and lead the Metropolitan Division by point percentage (.857). Carolina's nine-game streak is the longest in the NHL this season, the lone mark ahead of Anaheim's current eight-game run.
Tonight's game pits one of the NHL's most prolific offenses early in the season against a top-ranked defense. The Hurricanes are the only NHL to club to allow less than two goals per game (1.93) and have only conceded 27 total goals in their 14 contests. On the other side, the Ducks sit fourth in the NHL in scoring (3.53) and
power-play percentage (27.8%).
The game could also feature a goaltending duel between two former teammates and current league leaders, in John Gibson and 2012 Ducks third-round pick Frederik Andersen. Gibson and Andersen co-lead NHL netminders in wins (nine). Gibson also leads in time on ice (797:58) and ranks third in saves (381). Andersen, who appeared in 125 games from 2013-16, signed with Carolina in the offseason after five seasons in Toronto and currently sits fifth in save percentage (.938, min. 2 GP) and third in goals against average (1.78).
The Ducks and Hurricanes play the second half of a two-game season series on April 10 in Raleigh.
