The Next Big Game
Every game is the biggest game of the season for the Hurricanes, and Friday's match with the Blue Jackets is the next in that sequence.
And it is, indeed, a big game.
Columbus sits just two points back of the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference playoff race heading into a critical, four-point swing game.
PROJECTED LINEUP
"We know what our goal is, and we're not there yet," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said after practice on Thursday. "The guys have pushed hard to try to get into the race, which they've done, and now, we certainly don't want to take any steps backward at this point."
This is the fourth and final match-up between Carolina and Columbus this season, though the Hurricanes will still play seven games within their division to finish the season.
Ferland Returns?
Micheal Ferland, who has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, practiced with the team on Thursday. Brind'Amour said he is hopeful that Ferland, who has netted 17 goals this season, will be able to return to the lineup in Columbus. He skated on the left wing alongside Lucas Wallmark and Jordan Martinook in practice.
"Unless something changes between now and game time, I think we'll be in good shape with him," Brind'Amour said.
The Last Meeting
These two Metropolitan Division foes last met on Jan. 4 at PNC Arena, and the Hurricanes staved off a Blue Jackets comeback to win, 4-2. Greg McKegg tallied an assist and what proved to be the game-winning goal - his first goal as a Hurricane - in the first multi-point game of his NHL career. The win was the Hurricanes' third in a row in the beginning stages of what's been an improbable run since New Year's Eve.
The Opposition
The Blue Jackets, who are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games and stacked their lineup at the trade deadline, are coming off a 7-4 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Columbus is 19-16-2 at home this season.
"I think when everyone in the hockey world saw the additions they were like, 'Wow, that's pretty impressive.' I think it just took them a little time to get their groove," Brind'Amour said. "Unfortunately, we hit them at the wrong time. It will be a big test for us, for sure."
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS KEYS TO THE GAME
