Overview
- Puck drop is 7:00 PM EST at Lenovo Center in Raleigh with regional TV and ESPN+ streaming coverage.
- Carolina starts rookie Brandon Bussi, who is 13-1-1 with a .912 save percentage, against Montreal’s Jakub Dobeš in his first start since December 21.
- The Hurricanes lead the Metropolitan Division, and the Canadiens are one point off the Atlantic Division lead entering Game 40.
- Montreal rides a six-game point streak driven by late rallies and is stressing a better start, while Carolina has lost four of six, including 5-1 in Pittsburgh, in a stretch of four games in six nights.
- Carolina lists Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin as day-to-day with Seth Jarvis out since December 19, and injury-hit Montreal begins its fifth straight road game after years without a win in Raleigh.