Canes look to take down Atlantic Division elite in pivotal home stand

A Tough Stretch

A series of games against the Atlantic’s elite begins tonight when the Leafs come to town for the final time this season. For the Carolina Hurricanes, three of the top teams in the Atlantic Division are coming to Raleigh in the next four days. These games will be critical in the Canes’ quest for the Stanley Cup in 2023.

Starting with the Leafs

Starting with a home back-to-back against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canes will face four straight home games against playoff teams. This game will be the final regular season meeting between the Canes and the Leafs, with three more top teams in the Atlantic Division to follow. A strong performance over the next four days could help the Canes overcome their disappointment from blowing a lead in their previous game against the Rangers.

Recap of the Last Meeting

The Leafs and Canes played each other just eight days ago in Toronto where the Canes lost 2-5. That game saw Kochetkov give up five goals on 24 shots, which spelled trouble for the Canes. The defeat was the first of three wins in four games for the Leafs, with their one loss being a 7-2 beatdown by the Islanders.

The Leafs Lineup

After getting back on track with a 6-2 win against the Panthers, the Leafs are likely to use the 11/7 lineup that was successful in their previous game. Matt Murray is set to start in goal, with Ilya Samsonov back in Toronto after the birth of his first child. Samsonov had a notable performance against the Canes in the previous game.

Credit: https://www.canescountry.com/2023/3/25/23650740/carolina-hurricanes-toronto-maple-leafs-lineups-hockey-night-in-canada-time-how-to-watch-discussion

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