Staff Reports
National Hockey League
Carolina Hurricanes goalies earn NHL awards
Carolina Hurricanes goaltenders Pyotr Kochetkov and Antti Raanta both earned NHL recognition for their recent play during the team’s current 11-game win streak.
Kochetkov was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for December, while Raanta earned Third Star of the Week honors.
Kochetkov, 23, posted a 7-0-1 record, 1.63 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and two shutouts in eight December appearances.
Among NHL goaltenders with at least five games played last month, he ranked first in goals-against average, tied for first in shutouts, third in save percentage and fifth in wins, leading rookie netminders in all four categories.
Raanta, 33, registered a 3-0-0 record, 1.30 goals-against average, .944 save percentage and two shutouts in three starts last week.
Among all NHL goaltenders with multiple games played, he ranked first in shutouts and goals-against average, tied for first in wins and fifth in save percentage.
Raanta has posted a 10-2-2 record, 2.62 goals-against average, .897 save percentage and two shutouts in 15 appearances with Carolina in 2022-23 and ranks tied with Kochetkov for the team lead in wins.
Raanta and Kochetkov have combined for a league-leading five shutouts, and the Hurricanes are the only team with multiple shutouts from two different goaltenders.
Atlantic Coast Conference – Women’s Basketball
Duke debuts at No. 19 in AP Poll
Following a pair of recent victories against No. 10 NC State and Louisville this past week, the Duke women’s basketball team made its debut in the 2022-23 Associated Press (AP) Top-25 Poll, checking in at No. 19 in the Week Nine rankings.
The Blue Devils had received votes in previous weeks this season.
The Blue Devils were also selected ESPN Women’s Basketball Team of the Week and placed in the ESPN Power Rankings for the first time this season at No. 15.
In the 72-58 road win at then-No. 6 NC State last Thursday, Celeste Taylor led the team to victory with a 23 point, eight-rebound performance.
In the 63-56 victory over the Cardinals at Cameron Indoor on Sunday, Elizabeth Balogun led the way with a double-double, dropping 20 points and claiming 10 boards.
Currently riding an eight-game win streak, Duke is off to its best start in recent history – boasting a 13-1 overall record and a 3-0 mark in ACC play.
The Blue Devils’ 13 wins in 14 games, along with their three consecutive wins to open conference action, mark program bests dating back to the 2013-14 campaign.
Duke has held opponents to 50.3 points per game on 33.2 percent shooting from the floor, marks that currently rank second and fifth in the NCAA, respectively, as well as first in the ACC.
Upcoming ACC WBB Schedule
Thurs., Jan. 5
Pitt at Syracuse | 6 p.m. | ACCN
#22 North Carolina at Miami | 6 p.m. | ACCNX
#19 Duke at Wake Forest | 6 p.m. | ACCNX
Clemson at Florida State | 6 p.m. | ACCNX
Boston College at #10 NC State | 7 p.m. | ACCNX
Virginia at #9 Virginia Tech | 7 p.m. | RSN/ACCNX
Georgia Tech at Louisville | 8 p.m. | ACCN
Sun., Jan. 8
Florida State at Boston College | Noon | ACCN
#9 Virginia Tech at Miami | 1 p.m. | RSN/ACCNX
Georgia Tech at Wake Forest | 2 p.m. | ACCNX
Pitt at Louisville | 2 p.m. | ACCN
Syracuse at Clemson | 2 p.m. | ACCNX
Virginia at #10 NC State | 3 p.m. | RSN/ACCNX
#4 Notre Dame at #22 North Carolina | 4 p.m. | ACCN
Rankings according to most recent Associated Press Poll