Preview: October 14 at Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - The Carolina Hurricanes open a six-game road swing in the City of Angels on Saturday, taking on the Los Angeles Kings.

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When: Saturday, October 14

Puck Drop: 10:30 p.m. ET

Watch: Bally Sports South, Bally Sports App

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

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Canes Record: 1-0-0 (T-2nd, Metropolitan Division)

Canes Last Game: 5-3 Win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, October 11

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Kings Record: 0-1-0 (T-5th, Pacific Division)

Kings Last Game: 5-2 Loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, October 11

11-7 Again?

• The Canes opened the season on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators by deploying 11 forwards and seven defensemen. The team earned a victory, but Jalen Chatfield played just 4:37 in the victory. Will they go back to that well again, or will Wednesday's healthy scratch, Brendan Lemeieux, draw in against his former club?

Bunting, The Goal-Scoring Machine

• Michael Bunting scored in all three preseason games he played in for his new club. Wednesday, be carried that trend into regular season play, scoring the team's first goal of the season. Will he extend the run tonight?

Skjeisy Train

• After a career-best 2022-23 campaign, Brady Skjei followed up his 18-goal season with an Opening Night marker against Ottawa.

In Net

• Rod Brind'Amour said after practice on Friday that the team hadn't determined the cadence of how the team will use Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta, but the positive is that whoever the team opts to go with, they've got a good history against the Kings. Andersen is 11-1-3, with a 2.20 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage, and one shutout in 16 career regular-season games against the Kings. -- Raanta has posted a 6-0-1 record, 1.42 goals-against average, .957 save percentage, and three shutouts in seven career regular-season games against LA, marking his most shutouts against any NHL opponent.

On The Other Side

• The Kings got their season started on Wednesday as well, but fell to the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 5-2.  Quinton Byfield and Carl Grundstrom were the goal-scorers, while Cam Talbot allowed four goals on 36 shots in net.

Injury Updates

• Forward Vasily Ponomarev, who suffered a knee injury on the first day of training camp (9/22), is skating and "getting closer" to returning, per Brind'Amour on October 13.
• Forward Andrei Svechnikov remains skating in a no-contact jersey as he makes his way back from ACL surgery in March. He is not traveling with the team to start the trip, but could possibly make his season debut when the Canes return home later this month.
• Forward Ryan Suzuki suffered a "not serious" shoulder injury versus Nashville (exhibition) on Thursday, October 5. As of October 13, he is still "a ways away" from game action, per Brind'Amour.

What Are We Wearing?

• Carolina will be wearing their white uniforms. A complete uniform schedule for the season can be found here.

What's Next After Tonight?

• The Canes will head to Anaheim post-game, playing their second game in as many days on Sunday. They'll take on the Ducks at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Worth A Click

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