Must-Win Sabres Will Be Desperate Vs. Canes

by Cory Lavalette on Apr 9, 2009 1:15 PM EDT in Hurricanes Game Related

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The Carolina Hurricanes close out their regular-season schedule at home tonight, hosting the barely-still-alive-for-the-playoffs Buffalo Sabres.

For the Hurricanes, it's a chance to pressure Philadelphia for the fourth spot — and home-ice advantage — in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres need everything to go their way to reach the postseason, including winning tonight's game.

Carolina will also be looking for their 10th straight win — which would be a franchise record — and 13 in a row at the RBC Center. Cam Ward will again start in net — for the 28th consecutive time — and Joe Corvo, who missed Tuesday's blowout win against the Islanders with flu symptoms, will also be playing.

The Sabres kept their slim playoff hopes alive Wednesday with a 3-1 at Toronto, but now face a rested Hurricanes team who is waiting for them. Ryan Miller will likely be in net for Buffalo, but he has allowed at least three goals in all six of his starts since returning from injury.

Carolina leads the season series with two wins (one in regulation, one in a shootout) against a loss.

The game will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast by FS-CR and 99.9 The Fan.

Sabres Game Previews

N&O's Canes Now: Canes, Sabres have different goals

Buffalo News: Sabres stay alive with Toronto victory

NHL.com: Sabres-Hurricanes preview

CarolinaHurricanes.com: Sabres' season on the line • Game notes

Visit Die By The Blade for a Sabres perspective.

Hurricanes News

NHL.com: Hurricanes' Rutherford on Thursday's NHL hour

News & Observer: Canes' LaRose brings quickness, grit

The Hockey News: Goaltending, opponent will ground Flyers in Round 1

Sportsnet: Canes, Pens sizzling

The Bulletin: Are the Pens mightier than the Canes? (Flyers playoff preview)

Albany River Rats

Schenectady Daily Gazette: Rats final weekend • Rats award winners

CHL Playoffs

Spokane Chiefs (series with Vancouver tied 2-2): Win Game 4

Lethbridge Hurricanes (lose series with Calgary 4-0): Lose Game 4 (Zach Boychuk ends postseason with seven goals and five assists in nine games)

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Comments

Sports Club Stats has the Sabres listed as a 2.1% chance of making the playoffs. “Barely-Alive”….lets pull the plug on em! I expect this to be a tough game tonight- always is against the Sabres.

by PittsburghCaniac on Apr 9, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

Are the Pens mightier then the ’Canes- How the heck do the ’Canes have less talent then the Penguins? The ’Canes offer depth, the Pens have two superstars. Yes, Malkin and Crosby may be the best two players on the ice if the ’Canes play the Pens in the playoffs, but last time I checked, they cannot stay on the ice for the whole game. Besides, Malkin will probably “whine” that he is tired again in the playoffs like last year.

by PittsburghCaniac on Apr 9, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

I dunno. They have an elite, likely HOF d-man in Gonchar, plus they added Guerin and Kunitz. Staal No. 2 and Sykora are both capable, and I think the rest of their D (Letang, Scuderi) are underrated. I think Shero did a nice job reshaping them. Their big question mark is which M-A Fleury shows up.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Apr 9, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

That is true. I am probably just irritated that Crosby and Malkin are all I hear about, every day, every time I turn on the radio, no matter what- gets annoying. Shero did do a good job.

by PittsburghCaniac on Apr 9, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions