Batten down the hatches. Here come the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Raleigh hockey club has climbed its way back into the postseason picture in hockey's toughest division. As of Sunday, the Hurricanes are just one point back of a playoff position. No easy feat, considering both wild-card slots are occupied by Metropolitan Division foes.

But this wasn't the case not long ago. As the calendar turned to December, the Hurricanes owned a 9-9-5 record through their first 23 games, outpacing only the New York Islanders in the East, as the team looked poised to extend its postseason drought to eight years.

The Hurricanes have not qualified for the playoffs since 2009, their lone appearance since winning it all in 2006.

But on Saturday, the Hurricanes pasted those same Islanders, sinking New York 7-4 before the Carolina faithful, as the Hurricanes pushed their record at PNC Arena to 15-4-1. Five forwards had multi-point nights, including winger Lee Stempniak, one of many key players for Carolina this season.

After scoring 51 points a year ago, a season split between Boston and New Jersey, Stempniak is on pace for another 40-plus point campaign. Not a bad free-agency bargain, coming in at $2.5 million.

There are several Hurricanes forwards to speak of, including winger Jeff Skinner. The 2011 rookie of the year is having a bounce-back season after a few so-so years in the Tar Heel State. With 35 points in 42 games, Skinner is on pace to top his career-best production set in his freshman campaign.

Related: It's time to appreciate what Jeff Skinner is doing for the Hurricanes

Indeed, things have turned around in Carolina in the past two months, with just six regulation losses through December and January. Collectively, the Hurricanes are 21-15-7, good for 49 points.

Skinner isn't the only Hurricane playing like his old self. After a slow start to the season, in which he captured just a single victory in his first six outings, netminder Cam Ward has found his game and has appeared in all but one game since the start of December. With an 18-12-6 mark on the season, alongside a .915 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average, Ward is seeing his best numbers in five seasons.

The Hurricanes are the NHL's fifth-youngest team, a fact no more apparent than on the Carolina blueline, which features four regulars under 24 years old. Veteran defender Ron Hainsey, 35, is the lone elder statesman on the back end.

Given that overall adolescence, it makes the Hurricanes' impact on the penalty kill even more impressive. If you're facing Carolina, you best score 5-on-5, as the Hurricanes are the NHL's best when down a man, allowing a goal against just 11.3 percent of the time when shorthanded. That ranks more than a full two points above the next best club, with the Bruins holding a 86.2 percent success rating.

While the play of Carolina is a surprise to many, don't count Hurricanes bench boss Bill Peters among those blown away.

"Our team has gotten better as we've gone along," Peters told reporters. "We're a better team now, whether we're on the road or at home. As the calendar clicks off, we're getting better as we go."

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The Edmonton Oilers content team had some fun ahead of the latest Battle of Alberta, filming a spoof starring Craig MacTavish and the club's terrifying new mascot, Hunter.

In the short clip, MacTavish - who famously tore the tongue from the mouth of Calgary Flames mascot Harvey the Hound - prepares Hunter for the clash between the two mascots.

Of note: No mascots were violently beaten with a bat. At least, not on camera.

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Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Sunday, Jan. 15 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• C Nicklas Backstrom (53K) and RW T.J. Oshie (45K), Capitals (vs. Flyers): There's no overthinking things in pairing together two-thirds of Washington's productive first line (LW Alex Ovechkin and his 74K salary fails to make the cut). Backstrom and Oshie each had a goal and an assist in Friday's 6-0 rout of Chicago, and the Flyers have the third-worst team GAA (3.09) and the second-worst 5-on-5 save percentage.

• C Eric Staal (43K) and D Ryan Suter (36K), Wild (at Blackhawks): Minnesota is on a goal-scoring tear, having found the net 12 times over its last two games. Staal notched four points in that stretch and has found the score sheet in 14 of his last 15 games. His linemates are Charlie Coyle, a fellow C in Squad Up, and pricey LW Zach Parise (57K), so Suter gets the nod as Staal's partner. Suter has three points in his last two games and sees a massive 27:12 nightly workload.

• C Ryan Kesler (49K) and RW Jakub Silfverberg (48K), Ducks (vs. Blues): Two-thirds of Anaheim's second line at even strength, Kesler and Silfverberg rank first and fourth, respectively, in team scoring, and have combined for 11 points so far in January. The Blues have the NHL's third-worst 5-on-5 save percentage, and expected starting netminder Jake Allen has allowed three or more goals in five of his last six appearances.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET: Braden Holtby (98K), Capitals (vs. Flyers): Holtby is hard to ignore, given that he's won his last five starts, with three shutouts and a total of three goals allowed in that stretch. Philadelphia has lost its last eight road games, heightening Holtby's appeal in the earliest game of the day.

• BARGAIN: Devan Dubnyk (83K), Wild (at Blackhawks): A relative bargain, Dubnyk has only fared marginally worse on the road, holding a 1.85 GAA and a 10-3-3 record compared to 1.69 and 12-4-0 at home. He's won all three of his starts in January, and should be assured of plenty of goal support given his teammates' recent form.

• FADE: Steve Mason (83K), Flyers (at Capitals): Mason has beaten the Capitals once this season, though that outing came in Philadelphia. He's struggled on the road, holding a 3.09 GAA and winning just four of 15 starts. A meeting with the red-hot Holtby and the high-scoring Capitals isn't likely to go well for the former Calder Trophy winner.

• CONTRARIAN: John Gibson (93K), Ducks (vs. Blues): Gibson is nearly playing as well as Holtby, having won five of his last six starts, including two via shutout, but draws a tougher opponent in the Blues. The Ducks allow the eighth-fewest scoring chances against per 60 minutes, and Gibson's understudy, Jonathan Bernier, kept up the team's strong defensive play with a shutout on Saturday.

Bargain Plays

• RW Ryan Hartman (28K), Blackhawks (vs. Wild): Despite playing on the third line at even strength and seeing little in the way of power play time, Hartman has notched six points in his last five games, including a hat trick and a two-assist effort. Ranking second among Blackhawk forwards in Corsi For percentage (52.64), Hartman has managed to drive possession in his limited role.

• C Jori Lehtera (25K), Blues (at Ducks): On Sunday's small slate, viable bargain options are hard to come by, especially at C and LW. Lehtera has just 13 points in 38 games, but centers St. Louis' second line featuring high-scoring RW Vladimir Tarasenko at even strength. Lehtera scored on Saturday, and has notched a point in three of his last six games.

• D Jared Spurgeon (25K), Wild (at Blackhawks): The 5-foot-9 Spurgeon doesn't often feature on the Wild's top power play unit, but with 19 points in 37 games, offers some offensive punch from the back end. Spurgeon has seven points in his last eight games, and also averages nearly four combined blocks and shots on goal per game.

Top Fades

• C Henrik Sedin (59K), Canucks (vs. Devils): With one point and seven shots on goal in his last five games, name recognition and respect for his career must be the justification for Sedin's ranking as Squad Up's second-priciest center. The stingy Devils allow the ninth-fewest scoring chances against per 60 minutes, increasing the chances that Sedin will have another fruitless outing.

• RW Patrick Kane (86K), Blackhawks (vs. Wild): Kane is as reliable a scorer as there is, averaging exactly a point per game after 45 contests. He's priced so prohibitively high, though, that only a multi-point effort will allow him to live up to his salary. Against the NHL's leader in both GAA and save percentage (Dubnyk), that seems an unlikely proposition.

• D Shayne Gostisbehere (44K), Flyers (at Capitals): Gostisbehere was a healthy scratch for Saturday's game in Boston. While he could regain his place in the lineup for Sunday's clash in Washington, there's still a large degree of risk in selecting him. The healthy-again Mark Streit could monopolize power play duties, and there's of course the matter of facing a hot goaltender in the Capitals' Holtby.

Contrarian Options

• C Bo Horvat (57K), Canucks (vs. Devils): Vancouver's leader in goals (13) and points (30), Horvat likely won't garner too much fantasy attention thanks to a relatively high salary. He's been extremely consistent of late, recording at least a point in eight of his last nine games. He's also fared better at home, where he's scored 10 of his goals in 23 games.

• RW Justin Williams (40K), Capitals (vs. Flyers): A slow start that saw him record just four points in 21 games through November has contributed to Williams' underwhelming average of 13.1 fantasy points per game. Since December, he's turned things around, notching 10 goals and eight assists in 21 outings.

• LW Jason Zucker (38K), Wild (at Blackhawks): Despite the lack of regular power play time, Zucker has notched six points in as many games, including three goals. He may fly under the radar compared to some of the better known options at his position, but like the majority of his teammates, he's been finding the score sheet with regularity.

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Once again, Andrew Shaw's provided an act of indiscretion for frame-by-frame inspection.

The Montreal Canadiens winger delivered a high, late, and outwardly malicious hit on New York Rangers forward Jesper Fast on Saturday. As it does in these situations, the NHL will review the tape to determine if the action warrants a suspension or fine.

And in addition to scrutinizing the hit, Stephane Quintal's team at Player Safety will take Shaw's body of work into consideration when deciding on a course of action.

Here is that historical context:

• April 2012: Shaw banned three games for "forceful blow" delivered to the chin of Mike Smith in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

• November 2012: Shaw suspended six games for leaving the bench to fight in a minor-league game. He was suspended again not long after his return, sitting one game for a boarding incident.
• March 2014: Shaw handed five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for spear on Zack Smith.
• October 2014: Shaw swings his stick up between the legs of Tyler Myers.
• March 2015: While engaged in a puck battle Shaw delivers head butt to the face of Brock Nelson. He's handed a five-minute major and game misconduct, but no suspension.
• April 2015: Shaw takes a run at Barret Jackman, and launches at the point of contact. He slips suspension again as the hit didn't land clean.

• June 2015: Shaw accused of biting Victor Hedman in a scrum.
• April 2016: Shaw suspended one game and fined $5,000 for directing homophobic slur and an inappropriate gesture at an official. He was ordered to undergo sensitivity training.
• September 2016: Shaw was ejected for delivering hit from behind on Connor Hobbs in his debut with the Canadiens. Shaw accrued 30 penalty minutes on the play, and was suspended three preseason games.

• October 2016: Shaw avoids a suspension after dropping Johan Larsson with slew foot.

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The Nashville Predators should be better than average.

Sitting fourth in the Central Division with a 20-16-7 record through 43 games, the Predators have yet to live up to their preseason billing where many saw a team with Stanley Cup potential.

As of Sunday, the Predators sit outside of the West playoff picture, one point back of the second wild-card slot and a pair behind the division's third seed.

"Statistically everything is just OK," Predators general manager David Poile told Kevin Allen of USA Today. "We might have only one or two players who are having a career year. If we are going to be a playoff team and believe we can win rounds in the playoffs, we are going to need more exceptional individual play."

Nashville hoped to build on last season, when the club made the second round of the postseason for just the third time in its 17-year history. The Predators pushed the San Jose Sharks, who later advanced to the finals, to seven games before being eliminated. That performance earned head coach Peter Laviolette a two-year contract extension.

In an offseason effort to remake the look of his club, Poile dealt former captain Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens, a move which returned exuberant blue-liner P.K. Subban to Tennessee.

But for a team built on speed and scoring, the Predators have struggled this season, as the club sits in the middle of the pack, ranked 17th league-wide with 119 goals. No Predators skater is close to a point per game, with the top five scorers coming in as:

The numbers are average across the board - certainly not exceptional. On the special teams, the Predators' power play rings as the NHL's 15th-best, firing at a 18.2 percent success rating, while the penalty kill hasn't fared much better, sitting 11th at 82.7 percent.

Things have been so-so through the early goings of January, as the team has posted a 4-2-1 mark. Nashville was strong through November, but posted losing records in both October and December:

Like most teams, the Predators have dealt with their share of injuries, though most of the ailments have come to the team's top players.

Subban has been sidelined since mid-December with a herniated disc. Forward James Neal is back in the lineup, but has missed nine of the last 23 games as he dealt with an upper-body injury. Most recently, the team lost defenseman Roman Josi, out with an upper-body ailment.

"There are a lot of reasons we are where we are," Poiled added. "But my belief is that if we get healthy we can move up and be one of the better teams in the league."

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The Los Angeles Kings are good at this overtime thing.

Jeff Carter ripped home the game-winner against the Winnipeg Jets in the 3-on-3 session Saturday night, continuing his terrific season and extending the Kings' run of success in the new format.

They picked up their league-best 21st win in 3-on-3 overtime since the new method was instituted last season, and Carter notched his league-leading eighth game-winner of 2016-17, according to TSN StatsCentre.

Carter also tied teammate Anze Kopitar for the most regular-season overtime goals in franchise history (eight) and drew even with four other players for 14th-most in that category in the history of the NHL.

He ranks second in the league with 23 goals in 43 games this season. He has nine goals and seven assists in his last 12 contests.

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This isn't something we typically see from Joe Thornton.

The veteran San Jose Sharks forward was banished from Saturday's game for spearing Paul Stastny of the St. Louis Blues in the midsection in the second period.

Thornton was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the incident.

It was his first ejection since November 2010, when he delivered a headshot on Blues forward David Perron that eventually earned Thornton a two-game suspension.

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