Carolina Hurricanes vs Utah Hockey Club Picks and Predictions February 8th 2025

Utah and Carolina Both Searching for Scoring Boost

Scoring has been a struggle for both the Utah Hockey Club and the Carolina Hurricanes in recent weeks. Finding offensive rhythm will be crucial when they face off Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Hurricanes Aiming to End Skid

Carolina enters its final game before a two-week break, hoping to avoid its first four-game losing streak of the season. The Hurricanes have lost three straight games for the second time this year, including a 2-1 defeat to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday despite outshooting them 38-24.

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“We certainly deserved to get something out of that,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That’s kind of the way it’s gone for us all year.”

Rookie forward Jackson Blake is looking to step up as the Hurricanes search for more goals.

“We’ve got to capitalize, myself included. I’ve got to find ways to put it in the net,” Blake said. “We’ve only scored one goal in the last two games. That’s not going to win you very many hockey games. We’ve just got to find a way.”

Sebastian Aho has been a bright spot, scoring four goals in the last six games, including Carolina’s lone tally against Minnesota.

Utah Hoping to Continue Momentum

Utah has won two straight after snapping a five-game losing streak, but both victories came in overtime, with 3-2 results against Buffalo and Columbus. The team now faces a quick turnaround, playing Washington on Sunday before heading into the NHL break.

“When you’re in those situations more often, you get more comfortable and more confident,” Utah forward Dylan Guenther said. “We’re going to be in a lot of those (close games) moving forward.”

Guenther has three goals, including two overtime winners, in two games since returning from a lower-body injury. However, Utah has failed to score more than two goals in regulation in its last seven outings.

Special Teams Struggles for Carolina

The Hurricanes’ power play has been dismal, going just 2-for-46 since the start of January.

“Our power play stinks. I’ll just leave it at that,” Brind’Amour said. “We’ve got to find a way to score some goals. I don’t know what the answer is. We’re certainly putting up good opportunities, we’ve just got to finish.”

Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin echoed those concerns.

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“One of the things we’ve just got to get dialed in is our special teams,” Slavin said. “Our kill did a good job, but power play, we’ve got to bear down there and get some goals. A lot of times, that’s the difference in the game.”

The Hurricanes have experimented with different lineup combinations, even using just 11 forwards in a recent game. Defenseman Scott Morrow was a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Previous Meeting

Utah won the previous matchup 4-1 at home in mid-November, with Nick Bjugstad scoring twice. Carolina’s lone goal came from Martin Necas, who has since been traded to the Colorado Avalanche.

Bjugstad has five goals this season but only one in his last 19 games. Meanwhile, Utah has been solid on the road, posting a 14-10-3 record away from home.

Can Either Team Find an Offensive Spark?

Both teams are in dire need of offensive improvements. Will Utah continue its overtime magic, or will Carolina break its losing skid with a scoring surge?