
Carolina Hurricanes News

The Hurricanes held a rare morning skate at their home facilities on Friday before heading out to New Jersey for their contest against the Devils later in the day. Kochetkov was stellar in his last game before the holiday break, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.43 GAA and .903 SV% in 21 appearances (14-6-0). He has allowed three or fewer goals in five straight (3-2-0), posting a solid .934 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as +112 road underdogs against a Devils squad they will face again on Saturday.

Miller has missed the last six games but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Chad Ruhwedel was assigned to Hartford (AHL) in a corresponding move.

The Hurricanes held a rare morning skate at their home facilities on Friday before heading out to New Jersey for their contest against the Devils later in the day. Kochetkov was stellar in his last game before the holiday break, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.43 GAA and .903 SV% in 21 appearances (14-6-0). He has allowed three or fewer goals in five straight (3-2-0), posting a solid .934 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as +112 road underdogs against a Devils squad they will face again on Saturday.

Ehlers returned from a nine-game absence due to an injury last week and will remain in the lineup for his third straight game on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old Ehlers has 27 points (10G / 17A) in 26 games this season.

Ehlers has only played two games since returning from a nine-game absence due to injury and could be sidelined again on Monday in Toronto. The 28-year-old Ehlers has 27 points (10G / 17A) in 26 games this season.


Kochetkov is coming off his first shutout of the season, a spectacular 32-save performance in a 4-0 win over the New York Islanders. He returns to the crease on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.47 GAA and .902 SV% in 19 appearances this season (13-5-0). The Hurricanes have outscored their opposition 8-1 in their last two games (2-0-0) and enter Friday's contest as -151 road favorites against a Capitals club riding a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).

Ehlers just returned to skating on Friday so this was a bit of a surprise activation from the Jets. Ehlers has not played since suffering the injury on November 29th. His return is a big boost to the Jets lineup as he's been able to rack up nine goals and 16 assists in just 24 games this season.

Hall played a season-low 11:21 in Sunday's 5-3 win over the New York Islanders and is battling an undisclosed injury that caused him to miss the morning skate on Tuesday. The 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner only has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 30 games this season but has been more productive lately, scoring eight points (5G / 3A) in his last 10 games.

The Hurricanes gave Kochetkov the night off in their previous outing, a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but will revert to him on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.61 GAA and .895 SV% in 18 appearances (12-5-0) this season. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -217 home favorites against an Islanders club coming off a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hall played a season-low 11:21 in Sunday's 5-3 win over the New York Islanders and is battling an undisclosed injury that could keep him out of the lineup on Tuesday. The 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner only has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 30 games this season but has been more productive lately, scoring eight points (5G / 3A) in his last 10 games.

The Hurricanes gave Kochetkov the night off in their previous outing, a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but will likely revert to him on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.61 GAA and .895 SV% in 18 appearances (12-5-0) this season. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -217 home favorites against an Islanders club coming off a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Smith will take a seat on Monday to allow Tye Fellhaber to make his NHL debut. Smith is yet to register a point in nine games this season split between the Sharks and Avalanche.

The Hurricanes will roll with Kochetkov for a fifth straight game on Friday when they host the Ottawa Senators. Kochetkov was solid in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, but has battled some adversity lately, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five, posting a .865 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as sizeable -210 home favorites against a Senators club with points in four of their previous five games (3-1-1).

Ehlers has not played since suffering a lower-body injury last Friday but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Ehlers was pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 25 points (9G / 16A) in 24 games.

Miller played 13:42 TOI before leaving Wednesday's game in Buffalo. He will miss at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old defenseman saw expanded minutes following the Jacob Trouba trade, averaging over 23 minutes per game in the two games before Wednesday.

The Hurricanes will likely roll with Kochetkov for a fifth straight game on Friday when they host the Ottawa Senators. Kochetkov was solid in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, but has battled some adversity lately, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five, posting a .865 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as sizeable -210 home favorites against a Senators club with points in four of their previous five games (3-1-1).

Miller played 13:42 TOI before leaving Wednesday's game in Buffalo. It will be a big blow to the Rangers' blueline if Miller is forced to miss some time. He saw expanded minutes following the Jacob Trouba trade, averaging over 23 minutes per game in the two games before Wednesday. The Rangers did not have an update on Miller's status post-game, so consider him questionable to play Saturday vs. the Kings.

Smith was an additional piece in a trade with Mackenzie Blackwood that sent Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko to San Jose Sharks on Monday. The 26-year-old Smith was limited to only six games with the Sharks this season, averaging 6:17 time-on-ice in a fourth-line role, and will likely serve a similar role in his new home with the Avalanche.
