The Carolina Hurricanes are set to play the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa on April 5, closing out a back-to-back weekend that could serve as a preview for the upcoming playoffs.
This matchup is significant as the Hurricanes aim to secure their fourth division title in six years by earning at least one point from the game. The team currently leads the Metropolitan Division with a record of 49-21-6 and has accumulated 104 points. Their most recent victory was a narrow 4-3 win over the New York Islanders, marking their third consecutive win.
Seth Jarvis contributed two goals in that victory, helping Carolina maintain strong defensive play by limiting New York to just 15 shots over three periods. In previous meetings this season, Carolina defeated Ottawa both at home and away, including a three-goal first period leading to a win in Ottawa and another close contest decided by Jordan Staal’s late goal at Lenovo Center.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen is expected to start against Ottawa after Brandon Bussi played in Raleigh the previous night. Andersen has posted a record of seven wins and three losses since the Winter Olympics. On the other side, Ottawa is contending with injuries among defensemen and recently lost to Minnesota Wild, putting them on a 1-3-1 streak over five games. Drake Batherson has been an offensive leader for Ottawa since returning from Olympic break.
According to the official website, Lenovo Center serves as Carolina’s home venue in Raleigh, North Carolina, featuring more than 700,000 square feet of space with seating for up to 20,000 people and hosting over 150 events each year. The team also contributes more than $200 million annually to the local economy through events and community involvement according to its official website. Notably, players such as Eric Staal have been recognized for their contributions through induction into the team’s Hall of Fame according to official records. The Hurricanes achieved their greatest milestone by winning the Stanley Cup in 2006 as reported by their official website.
Looking ahead after this game against Ottawa, Carolina will have Monday off before facing Boston at Lenovo Center on Tuesday.
