“It’s incredibly thrilling,” said Guentzel at a press conference following a practice session in Raleigh, North Carolina. “My family is still in town, so I’ll be able to see them tonight. I’m looking forward to catching up with some of the guys. Overall, it’s going to be an enjoyable game and hopefully we can secure the win.”
The Hurricanes are familiar with the atmosphere of the home crowd on Tuesday, as they recently experienced center Evgeny Kuznetsov’s return to Washington last week.
Guentzel will face his former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, as they host the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET (broadcasted on SN-PIT and BSSO).
In the 2013 NHL Draft, Pittsburgh chose Guentzel in the third round (77th overall) and he played his first game in the 2016-17 season. Over the course of eight years, he primarily skated alongside Sidney Crosby as a left wing and accumulated 466 points (219 goals, 247 assists) in 503 games. He also helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2017.
Carolina is currently trailing the New York Rangers by just one point in the Metropolitan Division standings, with a record of 45 wins, 20 losses, and 7 ties. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh, with a record of 30 wins, 30 losses, and 10 ties, has fallen behind in the wild card race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference, currently sitting nine points behind the Washington Capitals. This decline in performance has coincided with a recent trade, during which they have only managed 2 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties.
Jake Guentzel is getting ready for his initial encounter as a competitor in the place he was raised and developed as a pro.
Carolina obtained Kuznetsov through a trade with the Capitals on March 8th. Kuznetsov and the Hurricanes faced off against the Capitals at Capital One Arena on Friday, with the center playing for 16 minutes and 21 seconds in a 7-6 shootout defeat, which was his initial game against his previous team.
The Hurricanes secured Guentzel through a deal with the Penguins on March 7. Guentzel has contributed 12 points (including two goals and 10 assists) in his eight games with the team. The Hurricanes have been performing well, with a record of 6-1-1, since Guentzel’s first game on March 12.