Update (10:07 a.m. ET, Thursday): Brandon Bussi is now listed as Carolina’s probable starting goalie for the Hurricanes vs Kraken Global Series matchup in Helsinki, replacing Pyotr Kochetkov in that projected role. Philipp Grubauer remains Seattle’s probable starter.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken meet Thursday in the Hurricanes vs Kraken Global Series matchup, a regular-season game played at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, Finland. Carolina enters with the best record in the NHL at 14-3-2, while Seattle is 9-6-1 and looking to shake off a rough stretch far from home. The biggest question heading into puck drop is now whether Bussi, rather than Kochetkov, can hold down a Hurricanes offense’s lead over a Kraken team that has scored at least five goals in three of its last five games.
Hurricanes Vs Kraken Global Series Game Information
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 12
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Venue: Veikkaus Arena, Helsinki, Finland
- TV/Streaming: NHL Net, CARNHL, KONG, Prime Video (Local)
- Stage: NHL Global Series
The game is being played at a neutral site as part of the league’s Global Series initiative, meaning neither club gets a traditional home-ice advantage despite Seattle being the designated home team.
How Have The Hurricanes Been Playing
Carolina has won four of its last five games, including a 9-2 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 8 and a 7-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 1. The only blemish in that stretch was a 4-1 loss at Nashville on Nov. 4. The Hurricanes sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 30 points, four clear of second-place New Jersey.
Sebastian Aho leads the team with 26 points on 10 goals and 16 assists, while Logan Stankoven paces Carolina with 11 goals. The Hurricanes have outscored opponents 78-44 this season and carry a .899 save percentage as a team, numbers that explain why they rank among the league’s top clubs defensively as well as offensively.
Brandon Bussi is now listed as Carolina’s probable starting goalie for Thursday’s game, a change from the Pyotr Kochetkov projection in the earlier version of this preview. Kochetkov had carried a 10-0 start that tied for second-best in NHL history before the goalie assignment shifted. Forward William Carrier is day-to-day with a right knee injury and has a projected return date of Nov. 12, while center Jordan Staal remains on injured reserve with a calf injury and is not expected back until Dec. 3.
How Have The Kraken Been Playing
Seattle has been inconsistent, going 2-3 in its last five with losses to Minnesota, Calgary and the New York Rangers sandwiched around wins over Toronto and Calgary. The Kraken sit fourth in the Pacific Division with 19 points, nine behind division-leading Edmonton.
Berkly Catton leads Seattle in points with 14, Chandler Stephenson has a team-high 11 assists and Frederick Gaudreau tops the club with seven goals. Seattle’s defense has allowed 57 goals against on a .886 save percentage, both figures behind Carolina’s marks. Philipp Grubauer remains listed as the Kraken’s probable starting goalie, unchanged from the original projection.
Seattle’s injury list is extensive. Goaltender Nikke Kokko remains on injured reserve for a non-injury-related reason with a projected return of Nov. 14. Center Curtis Douglas (upper body) has a projected return date of Nov. 14, left wing Jared McCann (lower body) is not expected back until Jan. 2, right wing Jacob Melanson (chest) has a projected return of Nov. 19, and defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) is projected to return Nov. 12.
Key Matchup To Watch
Carolina’s depth scoring against Seattle’s thin blue line could decide this one, now with a new name in goal for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have piled up 632 shots on goal this season compared to Seattle’s 410, a gap that reflects Carolina’s ability to generate offense from multiple lines, as shown by the Hurricanes’ recent form against Nashville and other divisional foes. Seattle will be without Lindgren on the back end while also missing Douglas and McCann up front, thinning out the group that has to contain Aho, Stankoven and the rest of Carolina’s attack.
With Bussi replacing Kochetkov as the probable starter, Carolina will lean on a defense that has allowed just 2.32 goals against per game this season to shield a different netminder from a Seattle group that enters shorthanded.
What To Watch
Beyond the standings implications, Thursday’s game marks a notable early-season measuring stick for both franchises on an international stage. Carolina is trying to maintain its grip on first place in the Metropolitan Division, while Seattle is looking to find footing in a crowded Pacific Division field that includes Edmonton and Vegas ahead of it. How the Kraken’s shorthanded roster responds to a deep Hurricanes team, now with Bussi between the pipes instead of Kochetkov, will be a central storyline as the game unfolds in Helsinki.
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