Jarvis, Aho Lead Hurricanes, Canadiens Set for Tuesday Clash
Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho will glance to continue their strong play when the Carolina Hurricanes visit Cole Caufield and the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
Hurricanes Riding Shorthanded Success
On Sunday, Seth Jarvis scored a shorthanded goal and added two assists, while Sebastian Aho also scored shorthanded, as the Carolina Hurricanes (45-19-6, 96 points) defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1. This victory marked their third consecutive win and solidified their position atop the Eastern Conference.
Carolina currently holds a one-point lead over the Buffalo Sabres for the top spot in the conference. They also have a comfortable 10-point lead over the second-place Penguins in the Metropolitan Division.
Jarvis’s three-point performance was his fourth of the season and extended his point streak to three games (one goal, five assists). He leads the Hurricanes with 29 goals this season.
Aho’s opening goal, scored just 47 seconds into the first period, marked a milestone in franchise history. He became the first player in Hartford Whalers/Hurricanes history to record eight seasons with 25 or more goals, surpassing Hall of Famer Ron Francis. Aho currently leads the team in assists (47) and points (72).
Nikolaj Ehlers also contributed with a shorthanded goal and an assist, earning his second multi-point game in three games with the Hurricanes. Carolina converted three shorthanded goals on Sunday.
“It’s nothing we haven’t been doing,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We just had some shots end up in the back of the net. That happens. I think it was our turn.”
Canadiens Bolstered by Caufield’s Hot Streak
The Canadiens (38-21-10, 86 points) also delivered an offensive showcase in their last game.
Cole Caufield recorded his third hat trick and added two assists for a career-high five points in Montreal’s 7-3 victory over the Modern York Islanders on Saturday. Caufield is currently on a five-game point streak (six goals, four assists) and has scored 11 goals in his last 11 games, bringing his season total to 43, making him the team’s leading scorer. He also scored a goal in the Canadiens’ 7-5 victory over the Hurricanes on New Year’s Day.
Caufield’s linemates also excelled against the Islanders. Captain Nick Suzuki had four assists, increasing his team-leading totals in assists (61) and points (85), while Juraj Slafkovsky scored two goals and had two assists. Both Suzuki and Slafkovsky are on six-game point streaks (Suzuki: three goals, eight assists; Slafkovsky: four goals, five assists).
“I just try to do my best, help the team, motivate us when things aren’t going well, and it worked (Saturday),” Slafkovsky said. “But we have 13 games left, so we have to keep working hard and doing this every night.”
Montreal currently holds third place in the Atlantic Division, having played one fewer game than the Boston Bruins.