What – Game 30 (18-9-2)
When – 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11
Where – Capital One Arena; Washington, D.C.
How to Watch – FanDuel Sports Network South, MNMT

The Carolina Hurricanes are back on the road for the first time in over two weeks and will be looking to put together back-to-back strong performances for the first time in a while too.

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The Canes will take on the Washington Capitals (18-9-3) as the two teams battle for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division.

Carolina is coming off of a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, a game that saw them overcome an early deficit to finish strong with four unanswered goals.

Washington enters tonight’s game after a three-day hiatus, also having most recently defeated the Blue Jackets 2-0 on Sunday.

While both teams are amongst the best at 5v5, each is struggling mightily with special teams play.

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Carolina has allowed a power play goal against in 17 of their 29 games and somehow, the Capitals are still below them in terms of penalty kill success rate.

The power play hasn’t been a strong spot either, but the Hurricanes are starting to string together a little bit of success on the man advantage with power play goals in six of their last nine games.

Streaks

Shayne Gostisbehere (4a) has points in four straight games.

Jordan Staal (2g, 1a) has points in three straight games and has scored in back-to-back games.

Andrei Svechnikov (3a) has points in back-to-back games.

Milestone Watch

Jesperi Kotkaniemi is one point short of 200 career points.

Jaccob Slavin is one point shy of 300 career points.

Jordan Martinook is two goals away from 100 career goals.

Game Notes

Carolina is 0-1-0 against Washington this season, having lost 4-1 on Nov. 11 in Raleigh.

Projected Starting Goalies

Brandon Bussi: 9-1-0; 0.909 Sv%; 2.09 GAA

Logan Thompson: 13-6-2; 0.925 Sv%; 1.96 GAA

Leading Scorers

Goals – Seth Jarvis (17) / Tom Wilson (17)

Points – Sebastian Aho (26) / Tom Wilson (32)

Power Play

Washington – 15.9% (26th)

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Penalty Kill

Washington – 75.3% (28th)

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis
Nikolaj Ehlers – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake
William Carrier – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook
Taylor Hall – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere – Jalen Chatfield
Alexander Nikishin – Joel Nystrom

Brandon Bussi
Pyotr Kochetkov

Injuries and Scratches: Mike Reilly, Frederik Andersen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi (LBI), Jaccob Slavin (LBI)

Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Connor McMichael
Aliaksei Protas – Justin Sourdif – Tom Wilson
Anthony Beauvillier – Nic Dowd – Ethen Frank
Brandon Duhaime – Hendrix Lapierre – Sonny Milano

Martin Fegervary – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Jakob Chychrun – Matt Roy
Dylan McIlrath – Rasmus Sandin

Logan Thompson
Gavin Bjorklund

Injuries and Scratches: Declan Chisholm, Parker Milner, Bogdan Trineyev, John Carlson (UBI), Pierre-Luc Dubois (abdomen), Ryan Leonard (UBI), Charlie Lindgren (UBI)

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