Tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET, the Carolina Hurricanes (19-16-9, 47 points) and Columbus Blue Jackets (19-20-4, 42 points) hit the ice at the Nationwide Arena for the second of five meetings against each other this season. The game can be live streamed here. Carolina fans can hear all of the action on 99.9 The Fan while Columbus fans can do the same on Sports Radio 97.1
Carolina is coming off of a victory on Thursday night while Columbus hasn't played since a victory on Monday night. The first time these two teams faceoff, the Blue Jackets defeated the Hurricanes 4-3 on Dec. 23 in Carolina.
The Hurricanes are riding high off of a 6-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs 24 hours ago.
"I think there's a great atmosphere in the room, a really good belief," John Michael Liles, acquired from Toronto on Jan. 1, told NHL Network. "I've only been here a short amount of time, but the guys in the room, it's a great core in place, guys are believing in the system and playing for each other, and it's leading to some wins."
With No.1 goaltender and reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky back from injury, the Blue Jackets earned a 4-3 win in the shootout over the New York Rangers on Monday night. The backstop was selected to play for the Russian Olympic team in February but is focused on Columbus until the time comes.
"On my chest is Columbus. I play for this team, so I give my best," Bobrovsky told the Columbus Dispatch. "We have goals, we have purpose, right here and right now. Nobody cares about the Olympics (now). That's the way it has to be."
Bobrovsky is 11-11-2 with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage this season. He'll likely be opposed by Anton Khudobin, who is 6-0-0 with a 1.84 GAA and a .943 save percentage.
Carolina has been led by Jeff Skinner (21-14-35), who has a six-game point streak while Eric Staal (10-25-35) and his brother Jordan Staal (10-14-24) rank second and third respectively on the team in scoring. Eric Staal is sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Ryan Johansen (16-16-32), Brandon Dubinsky (8-20-28) and Nick Foligno (11-14-25) pace Columbus offensively.
The Hurricanes and Blue Jackets faceoff when the lights come up at Nationwide Arena tonight in Columbus.
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