Fight Fire with Fire, Hurricanes-Blue Jackets preview

The Hurricanes are in Columbus tonight for a rematch of a wild pre-season affair which included several fights and intense chippiness that had rarely been witnessed in a game at the RBC before. The teams don't have the extra players available to them like they did in the pre-season game though, so I wouldn't expect a repeat. The game ended tied in regulation as well as OT and Andrew Ladd ended up getting the game winner for the Canes in a shoot-out that went 9 deep.

Superstar, Rick Nash is expected to return for Columbus after missing a couple of games due to an illness. Gilbert Brule, Michael Peca, and Fredik Modin are the notables out for the Blue Jackets. I would expect to see Pascal Leclaire in net for them, although he has been very inconsistent as late. He had been benched recently even though he does have 7 shut outs to his credit, including one over Atlanta in his most recent start.

Who will the Canes start tonight, Cam Ward or John Grahame? There has been nothing official put out by the team or any news service yet, but I would guess that Grahame will get the nod.

Bret Hedican, Matt Cullen, Justin Williams, and David Tanabe are out for Carolina. There have been no updates regarding Cullen or Hedican except that Bret didn't travel with the team to Ohio.

Ray Whitney will have a homecoming of sorts. Whitney was with the Blue Jackets from 2001 to 2003 and served as team Captain for a time.

Brandon Nolan was sent back to Albany yesterday, before the Bruins game. I thought the kid held his own while he was here and I look forward to his return.

Wade Brookbank was recalled last night after Hedican was injured. Brookbank is a defenseman who can sub at forward and has a reputation as being a bad boy. Nope, he's not that puck-moving blueliner that Canes management has been drooling about, but he's a warm body who will stick up for his team-mates. The big question is, will his posterior be off the bench for longer than a minute in Laviolette's system?

Here's a nice montage of highlights of the crazy pre-season game. In it you might notice Scott Walker hammering away at a Blue Jacket while he is down on the ice being restrained. At the time it seemed like the thing to do because I'm sure that dude deserved it. But I must admit, it makes what Avery did to Ladd look pretty minor now. Game time at 7 broadcast on FSN.