Red Wings vs. Hurricanes: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Tonight: Red Wings at Carolina.

Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh,  N.C.

TV/RADIO: Bally Sports/97.1 FM

Time: 7:30 p.m.

What To Know

The Red Wings take on another playoff team tonight in the Hurricanes, whose offense has come together since getting Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh at the deadline. In 10 games since the deal,  Guentzel has two goals and 10 assists. Leading scorer Sebastian Aho has benefited, too, with seven goals and eight assists in his last 11 games. He has 31 goals and 49 assists this season.

Guentzel, Aho and Seth Jarvis are playing together.

Carolina averages nearly four goals per game since the trade, going 8-2-1, The Wings have gone 3-8 over the same period. The Hurricanes have gotten standout performances on defense, allowing just 2.66 goals per game.

The Hurricanes are looking to improve their position in the playoff hunt. They’re currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Red Wings, meanwhile, are drifting out of playoff contention. They are two points behind Washington with 10 games left in the regular season, and the Capitals have a game in hand. It won’t get any easier this weekend, either, with games at Florida on Saturday and at Tampa Bay on Monday.

Red Wings

The Wings haven’t done much against Carolina in two meetings this season. They’ve only scored three goals and had just 12 shots in a loss at Carolina in January. It’s starting to sound like a broken record, but this is another game the Wings find themselves in a must-win situation. Time is running out as the team’s struggles continue.

Carolina will have added incentive tonight: A win will clinch a playoff spot for the Hurricanes for the sixth year in a row. The Red Wings, after an ice-cold March are drifting the other way with three weeks left in the season. It’s been hard for fans to watch in a season which saw the Wings in the thick of the playoff chase.

Defenseman Jake Walman remains out for a fifth straight game due to a lower-body injury. Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde didn’t indicate he’d be making any changes to to his lines or lineup.