Coyotes At Hurricanes: Game Day Preview

by Bob Wage on Dec 21, 2011 2:00 PM EST in Carolina Hurricanes Game Day Previews

The Phoenix Coyotes, (17-13-3) visit the Carolina Hurricanes, (10-18-6) tonight for an inter-conference game at the RBC. This will be a homecoming for sorts for Ray Whitney while youngster Riley Nash will be making his NHL debut for Carolina.

Whitney currently leads the 'Yotes in scoring and he is followed closely by another former Hurricane, Radim Vrbata.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Ray Whitney	33	11	19	30	9	10	3	0	0		73

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Radim Vrbata	33	16	13	29	10	8	3	1	4		89

Carolina leading scorer Jeff Skinner is still on the shelf because of concussion issues. Eric Staal and Chad LaRose are next highest on the scoring list for the last place team in the East.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Eric Staal	34	7	13	20	-18	18	3	0	1		120

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Chad LaRose	34	9	10	19	-15	24	2	1	2		94

Look for Cam Ward to face Jason LaBarbera in net. Phoenix goalie Mike Smith was injured in last night's 2-1 win in Florida.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2011 - Cam Ward	29	1643	10	13		90	3.29	887	797	.899	1

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2011 - Jason LaBarbera	8	399	2	3		16	2.41	195	179	.918	0

There was a report on Twitter that former Checkers goalie, Justin Pogge, will be the backup.

While the Coyotes won last night against the Panthers, the Hurricanes are coming off a disappointing OT loss against those same Cats on Sunday.

Tim Brent was injured yesterday in practice, so the Hurricanes recalled Riley Nash to take his spot as fourth line center. Nash has two goals and seven assists in 31 games for Charlotte so far this season.

According to CH.com, look for the following lines, at last to start off with for the Canes:

Bowman, Staal, LaRose
Ponikarovsky, Jokinen, Ruutu
Dwyer, Sutter, Tlusty
Stewart, Nash, Nodl
Gleason, McBain
Spacek, Faulk
Harrison, Allen

McBain, Ruutu, and LaRose each have points in the last two games.

While striking out in the last game in Florida, the Hurricanes powerplay has improved of late. They are 5-21 in their last five games, (23.8%). The team is 8-4-3 when scoring a powerplay goal.

These two teams met just one time last year and the Canes came out on top 4-3, in OT. Carolina will be donning black again tonight.

The game is not scheduled to be televised by either team, although it is scheduled for Center Ice. You can listen on 99.9 The Fan and check out our open thread here on the blog which will starting up at 6:30.

Our SBN partner, Five For Howling will have more info on the Coyotes.

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Comments

Whitney's stats...

Would be so welcome if he was in a Canes uniform this year (and last)…

by FuquayCaniac on Dec 21, 2011 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Yeah. Him and Cole both were lost due to our lack of money. Sad we loose guys and get nothing in return.

by RobbinDollar on Dec 21, 2011 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

Whitney was lost because we tried to trade him and couldn’t and then he got more years than we were going to offer from Phoenix.

by jfhammon on Dec 21, 2011 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

It will be good to see the Wizard again...

the Yotes are beatable…and the question is are the Canes up to that Challenge ?

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

by CaniacSteve on Dec 21, 2011 2:58 PM EST reply actions

Depends....

…..on the effort level—and the consistency of the effort level. See Vancouver for good, Winnipeg for bad, and FL for inconsistent (had good and bad…).

by Squeaky83 on Dec 21, 2011 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

yep this team is best described as inconsistent.. Hopefully they will get better.. I think they will.. good luck to them tonight..

by dbaerry34 on Dec 21, 2011 4:46 PM EST reply actions

They are inconsistant because everyone has to click in every game they play. If the talent was there and one player had a bad night it wouldn’t matter because someone else would pick it up, however, on this team if someone has a bad night it’s really a domino effect in the wrong direction.

by hotchipsnsalsa on Dec 21, 2011 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree

I think the talent is there, I think that they are still in hangover mode from Coach Mo style hockey. It’s been going on over two years and it takes a while to get out of the system

by lcd 2you on Dec 21, 2011 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

Yep.

by East of Here on Dec 21, 2011 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

hey East!!

Editing Manager of Canes Country.com

by Bob Wage on Dec 21, 2011 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

Hey Bob!

Hope all is well with you and yours!

by East of Here on Dec 21, 2011 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

doing well thanks. Hope the same for you!

Editing Manager of Canes Country.com

by Bob Wage on Dec 21, 2011 8:13 PM EST up reply actions

Well, helllooo, Mr Fancy Pants.

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 Dec 21, 2011 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

You, on the other hand...

(Just kidding…)

by East of Here on Dec 21, 2011 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

I know where you live.

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 Dec 21, 2011 6:18 PM EST up reply actions

I am better armed and hold the high ground.

by East of Here on Dec 21, 2011 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

Center Ice

According to Center Ice, the game “may be subject to blackout in parts of Raleigh.”

by DrCaniac on Dec 21, 2011 5:23 PM EST reply actions

That's okay, I'm at work anyway

worst part is everything’s breaking and they’re yelling at me to get other people out to the down sites like I have that power

by lcd 2you on Dec 21, 2011 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

this sucks.

was hoping to catch this, a home game, televised. I really really hope we get more televised games next season. I’d rather watch Hockey than basketball, kthx FSN.

Ready for the Canes to win the Cup again! :)

by thebl4ckd0g on Dec 21, 2011 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure this is a contractual thing with Versus

Puck Daddy had an article about it back in October, saying the Hurricanes would be one of the few teams affected.

If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk

by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 21, 2011 5:40 PM EST up reply actions