Hurricanes at Canadiens: Game Day Preview

by Bob Wage on Nov 16, 2011 2:11 PM EST in Carolina Hurricanes Game Day Previews

The Carolina Hurricanes, (6-9-3) visit the the Bell Centre tonight to take on the Montreal Canadiens, (7-7-3) for the first matchup of the season between these two teams.

The Canes are in a rough patch presently and now have lost five of their last six games, as well as nine of their last twelve. The Habs have two overtime wins in their last three games and have won six of their last nine.

This game marks the first meeting between former Hurricane Erik Cole and his Carolina teammates since the free agent moved on to Montreal for more money and a longer term contract than what was offered at "home" this past summer. Chip Alexander recently spoke with Cole and you can see that story here.

There has not been any report of line changes yet, formations which have had mixed results over the past two games. In case you have missed the changes, most significantly, Eric Staal has been moved to wing, and Anthony Stewart has been a healthy scratch. Also, Joni Pitkanen has been out with a lower body injury.

According to the Hurricanes official depth chart, these are the lines:

Staal, Sutter, LaRose
Skinner, Jokinen, Ruutu
Ponikarovsky, Brett, Dwyer
Boychuk, Dalpe, Tlusty
Harrison, Gleason
McBain, Allen
Joslin, Kaberle

Cam Ward will be starting for the Hurricanes and will most likely be facing Carey Price for the Habs. Both of these goalies saw a lot of rubber last season and they are on pace to do it again this year. Ward is currently fourth in the NHL with 428 saves.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2011 - Cam Ward	15	838	6	7		45	3.22	473	428	.905	1

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2011 - Carey Price	15	908	6	6		37	2.44	402	365	.908	0

The Carolina goalie has had much success in Montreal, starting back in the 2006 playoffs. He has a 12-6-2 lifetime record against the Habs. Price is 4-4-1 lifetime against Carolina.

The Canes have an 8-2-2 record at the Bell Centre since the 2005-06 season, although they lost both games in Montreal last season.

Staal, Ruutu, Skinner, and Jokinen each have two game point streaks for Carolina. Jeff Skinner leads all scorers with 18 points, (7G 11A). Next closest is Jokinen with 12 points.

Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec both lead the Habs with 14 points each.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Max Pacioretty	17	8	6	14	3	8	0	0	1		63

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Tomas Plekanec	17	4	10	14	1	14	1	0	2		51

The Habs are missing a few defensemen. Andrei Markov is still out while Hal Gill and Jaro Spacek are both questionable for tonight. Mike Cammalleri had missed a couple of games with a lower body injury, but he is due back for this one.

For more details about the Habs, check Habs Inside Out and Habs Eyes On The Prize.

Tonight's game will not be televised locally, you will have to watch it on Center Ice or check for online feeds. 99.9 The Fan will have the radio broadcast with Chuck Kaiton. We will have our open game thread ready to go at 6:30.

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Weblinks!

Still early but we should have at least one decent stream online tonight, http://globalsports.netne.net/home.html , veetle, 900k. i’ll post more when and if they become avail.

by Cincinnati Reds on Nov 16, 2011 2:16 PM EST reply actions

Fantasy Hockey Advice:

If you’ve got Cole on your team – start him. He’s bound to have a big night.

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Nov 16, 2011 2:23 PM EST reply actions

I think that applies to basically anyone on your fantasy squad facing the Canes.

by Iggy Reilly on Nov 16, 2011 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

That is very true, lol. Considering I have Giroux, I’m nearly ecstatic anytime Philly is playing the Canes.

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Nov 16, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

Jags paid off for me on Monday.

I believe in strength. I believe in unity. And if that strength, that unity of purpose, demands a uniformity of thought, word and deed then so be it.

by Douchebag St John on Nov 16, 2011 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks Bob

the fan shall keep his fingers crossed,and made 3 sacrifices to the hockey gods….and this fan feels that rreal hockey beats the heck out of “fantacy” any day of the week..and not so nerve wracking too !! 0_O

9/11/01 - Never Forget !!
Long Live #63 The Condor
Go Canes & Checkers !!!

by CaniacSteve on Nov 16, 2011 3:10 PM EST reply actions

Stastny

Hockey news is reporting that Paul Stastny may be available for an upgrade on defense. He has two years remaining on his current deal at $6.6 million a year. I could probably swallow the loss of Pitkanen or Allen (depending on Colorado’s needs on the back end) which a prospect for us going the other way for Stastny. Thoughts?

by jfhammon on Nov 16, 2011 3:26 PM EST reply actions

I suggested the same thing on the previous thread. I didn’t know Hockey News was reporting it though, so good timing for me.

It's time for change! "If you want to change the culture, you will have to start by changing the organization." - Mary Douglas

by PackPride17 on Nov 16, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

I’d give up Kaberle, McBain and Rosie for him. All or nothing…

Bring in Joslin and Faulk to make up the difference. Go young on the forwards and play the rest of this year looking like a real team next year….

by Squeaky83 on Nov 16, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

They would want an upgrade

by hurricane9 on Nov 16, 2011 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Would rather do

Boychuk + McBain + Ruutu + Kaberle + 1st
for
Rick Nash + Marc Methot

by JussiJuice on Nov 16, 2011 4:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I don’t see C-bus biting on that.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Nov 16, 2011 4:08 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I don’t see any trade for a big contract like Stastny or Nash working out.

Pitkanen is too invaluable to trade, he’s pretty much our only legit top-4 D. Nobody wants Allen’s huge contract and I believe he has a NTC anyway. Kaberle is impossible to move with his contracy and play of late. Moving Ruutu or Staal kind of defeats the purpose of boosting the top.

Seeing as the Canes will not be adding millions in salary, I highly doubt we add someone of that caliber.

by JussiJuice on Nov 16, 2011 4:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Just for clarity (and I think you meant it this way) he has this year plus two more years remaining. And for those wondering, his cap hit and salary are the same. If I was JR, they would have to take back some long-term money (Pitkanen and Stewart?), then i’d be willing to throw in a mid-range prospect. Then the question becomes can Stastny move to the wing on a line with Staal, should Staal make the full-time move to the wing, or is Stastny the new second-line center and Jokinen can move back to win, perhaps with Staal.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Nov 16, 2011 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

When Duchene was having trouble they moved him to the wing rather than Stastny. This might be a product of Duchene’s youth and size but I remember Stastny as a solid 3 zone player who is good at faceoffs. Because of this I see him more as our new first line center with Staal at least until Staal get’s his mojo back. I think Dalpe and Pitkanen would be a fair trade.

by jfhammon on Nov 16, 2011 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

Then the question becomes can Stastny move to the wing on a line with Staal, should Staal make the full-time move to the wing,

Staal has performed very well at the wing….and he and Stastny make a monster two headed beast……Then you have the Fins and Skins line, that is one beast of a one two punch.

I believe in strength. I believe in unity. And if that strength, that unity of purpose, demands a uniformity of thought, word and deed then so be it.

by Douchebag St John on Nov 16, 2011 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Hey his last name starts with ‘S’. He’ll be a perfect fit.

by Kyle13 on Nov 16, 2011 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting game. Habs started bad but have been coming around. We have the game to beat these guys if we bring it.

What will we bring?

Go Canes!

by Squeaky83 on Nov 16, 2011 3:42 PM EST reply actions

I need an explosion on offence this game as my opponent in fantasy has Price playing (his only tender). Don’t let me down canes.

by jfhammon on Nov 16, 2011 4:27 PM EST reply actions

If Ward is indeed in for tonights game I expect (well, hope I guess) he’ll be playing in top-form. He’s got to be frustrated after the last game. It can’t be stressed enough, “help out your goaltender!”

Megaweapon… Megaweapon… Megaweapon…

by Kid CHUD on Nov 16, 2011 4:54 PM EST reply actions

GO MO GO

by Go_Shelf on Nov 16, 2011 5:20 PM EST reply actions

Stewart

Has anyone heard of or know of an explanation about why Stewart is sitting? He has three goals in much less playing time than most of the players, you’d think a goal-starved team would play him rather than two rookies. Is he hurt?

by LewPuls1 on Nov 16, 2011 6:03 PM EST reply actions