Jets vs Hurricanes: Carolina Hosts Winnipeg in Sunday Afternoon NHL Game

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Winnipeg Jets at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sunday afternoon in a matchup that has drawn strong search interest. The puck drops at 1 p.m. ET, and the Hurricanes are carrying a five-game point streak with a 4-0-1 record into the game.

Hurricanes built momentum, Jets in a slump

Carolina enters the game ranked first in the Eastern Conference with 24 points, holding an 11-2-2 record. The team is keeping its lineup unchanged, according to NHL.com's projected lineup.

Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to start in goal for the fourth straight game. He is already the first goaltender in franchise history to begin a season 9-0-0, and a win would make him only the third goaltender in NHL history to win his first 10 games of a season, according to NHL.com.

Winnipeg is 4-7-3 and sits 13th in the Western Conference with 11 points. The Jets have lost eight straight games, with their most recent defeat coming against Carolina, according to Canes Country. Their only points in recent outings came in two games, and that includes a loss in the Heritage Classic last weekend.

Key players and the Hellebuyck trade

Winnipeg made a notable roster move a week ago, trading goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Canes Country reported that Carolina was among the teams pursuing him, and that the trade removed a lingering issue for the Jets. The move has not yet translated into results on the ice for Winnipeg.

On the Carolina side, the forward line of Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake and Nikolaj Ehlers has been productive. Blake has two goals and five assists, and Ehlers has three goals and four assists, both on five-game point streaks. Stankoven leads the team with nine goals this season and has scored five in his last five outings, according to NHL.com.

Carolina is without Taylor Hall, who is listed with an upper-body injury, and Jordan Staal, who has a calf tear. NHL.com reported that Hall was expected to be out "for a little while" as of Oct. 27, and Staal was expected to miss "a month or two" from Oct. 13.

Goaltending questions for Winnipeg

Winnipeg's goaltending picture is less settled. Canes Country noted that Nico Daws made his Jets debut in a loss to Florida on Friday, while Stuart Skinner may be the logical choice after a short turnaround. Clay Stevenson started against Carolina earlier this season and stopped 34 of 37 shots, but he was later pulled in a home loss to Florida.

Carolina had Friday off after a win over Columbus and practiced Saturday without line changes. Canes Country said the early start means no morning skate, and the extra rest between games is likely to keep Kochetkov in net.

What to watch and what comes next

The game is available on NHL Network nationally, while Hurricanes Hockey Network carries it in the Carolina market, including streaming on Prime Video within the team's footprint. Pregame coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. ET on radio and television. The Hurricanes are headed to Finland in less than two weeks, according to Canes Country.

The Hurricanes are favored, with DraftKings listing them at -278 on the moneyline, and the total is set at 6.5 goals. For now, the outcome of this afternoon's game will determine whether Kochetkov extends his undefeated start and whether Winnipeg can break its losing streak.

Reporting for Chopal Unfiltered.