Canes Face Maple Leafs in First of Three Season Matchups

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, January 9, in the first of three regular-season matchups between the two teams. The game, set for 7:30 p.m. ET at PNC Arena, comes as both teams look to solidify their playoff positions in their respective divisions.

The Hurricanes (24-15-2, 50 points) are coming off a tough 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, while the Maple Leafs (27-13-2, 56 points) are riding a five-game winning streak, including a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on the same night. Toronto is currently fourth in the Atlantic Division, while Carolina sits third in the Metropolitan Division.

Toronto’s offense has been led by Mitch Marner, who is tied for third in the NHL with 58 points and ranks second with 44 assists. William Nylander and John Tavares have also been key contributors, with Nylander tied for fourth in the league with 23 goals and Tavares reaching the 20-goal mark this season. Captain Auston Matthews, who recently returned from a five-game absence, has added seven points in three games since his return.

Carolina, meanwhile, is searching for consistency. Andrei Svechnikov scored his first goal in nine games during Tuesday’s loss, while Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis have shown flashes of brilliance but have struggled to maintain consistency. The Hurricanes’ defense will need to step up against a high-powered Toronto offense that has scored 16 goals in its last five games.

In net, the Maple Leafs have relied on a combination of Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, with Stolarz leading the NHL in save percentage (.927) and ranking second in goals-against average (2.15). Carolina’s goaltending situation remains in flux, with Frederik Andersen recently returning to practice after knee surgery but still not ready for game action.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Hulu, with radio coverage available on 99.9 The Fan and the Hurricanes App. According to Fanatics Sportsbook, the Hurricanes are slight favorites at -150.