A 1980’s icon versus the newest team in the league, because why not?
Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes (32-15-5) – or rather, the Hartford Whalers – will play the Utah Mammoth (28-21-4) for the yearly throwback game. It will be the record third time that the Hurricanes have donned their vintage duds in a single season, after having played the Quebec Nordiques (Colorado Avalanche) twice already.
“I like it,” Rod Brind’Amour said after Wednesday’s practice, where the green gear saw some action. “You know, I don’t know that we have to do it all the time, but … I like the colors.
“It’s a kind of unique thing that kind of breaks up the monotony of kind of the year that goes on and adds a little spice, and that’s about it. … I think the colors are awesome.”
Through 13 games over the month of January, the Hurricanes have an 8-3-2 record, but will face a team on a tear with a 10-2-1 record since the start of the year. The Mammoth have been a buzzsaw, as they handed the Florida Panthers a 4-3 loss Tuesday, just one day after the Tampa Bay Lightning ended Utah’s nine-game point streak.
The Hurricanes’ last game was a struggle against the Ottawa Senators, both offensively and defensively, with goaltending considered as what won the game for Carolina. After the game, Taylor Hall – who spent a rare 10 minutes off the ice for misconduct – described the match as one that they shouldn’t have won, as they were unable to match the Senators’ energy, and credited Brandon Bussi’s play for bailing them out.
With that being said, it appears that the Hurricanes will likely be lent a glove from Bussi once again after he appeared in the starter’s crease again during practice on Wednesday. This season, he has notched a save percentage of .909 and a goals against average of 2.15 across a 19-3-1 record.
For the Mammoth, the likely goalie to start would be Karel Vejmelka. His numbers this season have been good, with a .901 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average through a 25-12-2 record.
The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM EST.
Expected Carolina Hurricanes Lines
Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook
William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Defense
Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin
Goaltenders
Brandon Bussi / Frederik Andersen
Expected Mammoth Lines
Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse
JJ Peterka – Barrett Hayton – Daniil But
Michael Carcone – Jack McBain – Kailer Yamamoto
Brandon Tanev – Kevin Stenlund – Liam O’Brien
Defense
Mikhail Sergachev – Sean Durzi
Nate Schmidt – John Marino
Ian Cole – Nick DeSimone
Goaltenders
Karel Vejmelka / Vitek Vanecek
Special Teams
Carolina Hurricanes power play: 21.3% (14th, dropped one spot from the previous game)
Carolina Hurricanes penalty kill: 80.3% (12th, moved up four spots from the previous game)
Utah Mammoth power play: 15.2% (32nd)
Utah Mammoth penalty kill: 80.0% (13th)
Hurricanes Game Notes
Shayne Gostisbehere returned to practice in a full-contact sweater Wednesday, and Brind’Amour seemed hopeful for a return to play pending Thursday’s morning skate.
Eric Robinson and Charles Alexis-Legault were absent from Wednesday, as both of them are dealing with longer-term injuries. Nonetheless, throughout their recoveries, they have been seen around the facility or partaking in practice.
Jordan Martinook was notably absent Wednesday, but Brind’Amour cleared concerns as he explained that it was merely a maintenance day for him. In his stead, Noah Philp – who graduated from the no-contact sweater – practiced on the third line. However, hours later, it was announced that the Hurricanes had placed Philp on waivers.
How To Watch
TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 99.9 The Fan
