Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Hurricanes

After earning eight of a possible 12 points on a six-game road swing, the Carolina Hurricanes return to PNC Arena for five games in eight days.
Up first in the homestand is a one-off match-up against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Match-Up

Columbus Blue Jackets (7-5-4, 18 points) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (9-3-0, 18 points)
Monday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.
Watch: FOX Sports Carolinas,
FOX Sports GO
Listen: 99.9 FM The Fan,
Hurricanes.com/Listen
,
Hurricanes app
PROJECTED LINEUP

Tracking the Storylines

Homecoming: The Canes have played nine of their first 12 games of the season on the road. Only San Jose has played fewer home games (1) than the Canes (3), and that's only because they couldn't physically play at home because of local govenment restrictions. It's a limited sample size, but the Canes are 3-0-0 at home this season with wins against the two Stanley Cup finalists from a year ago.
Paquette's Debut?: The Canes acquired Cedric Paquette from the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Paquette, along with his dog Moka, drove from Ottawa to Raleigh on Sunday in order to
remain complaint with NHL protocols
and avoid a lengthy quarantine. The 27-year-old forward could make his debut with the Canes as early as tonight, perhaps centering the fourth line.

The Opposition

Last five games: 3-1-1, 7 points
On the road: 3-3-2, 8 points
CAR vs. CBJ: 1-1-0
Leading scorer: Cam Atkinson, 12 points (5g, 7a) in 15 games
The Blue Jackets have earned points in each of their last three games (2-0-1). Patrik Laine has scored four goals and recorded an assist since joining Columbus, and Jack Roslovic is a point-per-game player with nine points (4g, 5a) in as many games.

The Last Meeting

The Canes split a two-game set in Columbus just a week ago, when they scored a touchdown's worth of goals in a
6-5 win
on Super Bowl Sunday before the Blue Jackets squeaked out a
3-2 win
the very next night.

"It's certainly not a lack of effort," Brind'Amour said after the rematch loss. "We really worked hard tonight being short-staffed on a back-to-back. I thought we grinded it out and probably deserved better."

Worth a Click

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- - Postgame Quotes: Feb. 13 at DAL