The Carolina Hurricanes have high-level producers on the offensive side, making the team a threat in many situations.
In the big picture, it might be offensive contributions coming from defensemen that determine how the season plays out.
“We need it from everyone,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
The Hurricanes will see if they can generate widespread production again when the Ottawa Senators visit for Friday night’s game in Raleigh, N.C.
Carolina has won just two of its last six games, and the 3-2 comeback against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night was far from smooth.
Yet all three of the Hurricanes’ goals in the Sharks game came from blueliners: Shayne Gostisbehere, Brent Burns and Jalen Chatfield.
“There’s not a team in the league that’s not looking for their D to join the rush or to be part of the offense,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “It’s no secret that if your D are scoring and being part of it, you’re going to create more.”
The Carolina defensemen want to be part of any solutions necessary on the offensive end.
“We’re going to dig deep. We’re going to get in the trenches,” Chatfield said. “Scoring a late goal, I think that’s part of our team, part of our identity and we’re going to keep pushing.”
It’s unclear if the Hurricanes have really snapped out of a slide, but winning two of their last three games is encouraging.
“Hopefully, we get on the right track and keep pushing,” Chatfield said. “We have the group in here to do it. It’s just being consistent. It’s a long year. We’re not going to be able to win them all.”
Gostisbehere and forwards Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas all have four-game points streaks for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes will be playing the second of a four-game homestand Friday night. Carolina’s 59 goals on home ice were an NHL-high total at midweek.
Ottawa completed a 3-1-0 homestand with Wednesday night’s 5-1 romp past the Anaheim Ducks, keyed by Drake Batherson’s hat trick.
It has taken time for the Senators to gear up their offense.
“We’ve got to get a little greasier around the net,” Green said. “We’ve got a few guys who have been snakebitten a little bit.”
Center Tim Stutzle is Ottawa’s points leader (36), but he has gone five games without a goal, though he has seven assists in that stretch.
Carolina will adjust its line combinations after losing forward Jack Drury to a broken hand during the San Jose game. He underwent surgery on Thursday and is expected to miss significant time.
“It’s not looking good,” Brind’Amour said. “I’m assuming he’s going to be out for a while.”
The Hurricanes recalled forward Tyson Jost from AHL affiliate Chicago. Jost has played in seven games with Carolina this season, with one goal.
The Senators are making their second trip of the season to Raleigh, where they lost 4-0 on Nov. 16. Ottawa is 1-1-1 in road games since that matchup.
Goalie Spencer Martin, who logged the shutout for the Hurricanes on Nov. 16, is back in the minor leagues. Pyotr Kochetkov has played the past four games in net for Carolina.
–Field Level Media
