RALEIGH, North Carolina. – After returning to play Thursday night for the first time in nearly two weeks, the Carolina Hurricanes will look to build on their momentum in the New Year today at Columbus.

When: Saturday, January 1 at 1 p.m. EST

Look: Bally Sports South, Bally Sports App

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes.com/Listen, Hurricanes app

Rod record: 22-7-1 (45 Points, T-1st – Metropolitan Division)

Last game of the rods: 4-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, December 30.

Record for blue jackets: 15-13-1 (31 points, 6th – metropolitan division)

Last game of the Blue Jackets: Shootout victory 4-3 over the Nashville Predators on Thursday, December 30.

STORIES TRACKING:

Not today, COVID: Yesterday defender Brendan Smith joined the team to train, effectively moving the team’s current COVID-19 protocol roster to zero. Fast jesper returned for Thursday’s win over Montreal and Freddie Andersen served as a replacement for Antti Raanta for the same game. If everyone remains healthy for today’s game, it will be the first competition since November 20 that the group is not impacted by COVID-related issues.

Keep the momentum going: Coming in tonight, Carolina has won seven of its last eight games. Their only loss in the streak came to the scorching Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, December 12.

Stuntin ‘Sebastian: Sebastien aho enters tonight after registering several points in his last six games played. Recording 14 points during the period, he is only the third player in franchise history to reach this mark and the first since Kevin Dineen, who did so in the 1988-89 season.

Get the first one: The Canes are 15-2-1 when they strike first this season.

Additional Notes:

Stage watch: Tony DeAngelo needs two more assists to reach No. 100 in his NHL career.

What color are we wearing? : The team will be wearing their away jerseys this evening.

Worth a click:

Canes assigns Chatfield to the taxi squad

2021 in review: a better franchise year

Recap: Raanta, Canes Shuout Canadiens

All-Star fan voting is now open