Maple Leafs At Hurricanes: Game Day Preview

by Bob Wage on Dec 29, 2011 3:26 PM EST in Carolina Hurricanes Game Day Previews

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 27: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a save on Zac Dalpe #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the game at Consol Energy Center on December 27, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes, (12-20-6) will play their third game in four nights tonight as they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, (18-14-4) at the RBC. The Canes have earned points in five of their last seven games and have won two of their last three.

It looks like Patrick Dwyer will remain out tonight, meaning that Zac Dalpe will once again be in the lineup. Dalpe will be slotted on the same line with Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty. According to CH.com, the lines should start out as follows:

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

Cam Ward will be back in net for the Canes. He will face James Reimer for Toronto. Reimer is 3-0-0 career against Carolina.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2011 - Cam Ward	32	1824	12	14		97	3.19	954	857	.898	1

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2011 - James Reimer	15	836	7	3		41	2.94	413	372	.901	1

The Leafs are led by Phil Kessel, who has been among the league leaders for goals scored much of the season. Joffrey Lupul is right behind him and is surprisingly scoring at over a point a game clip.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Phil Kessel	36	20	22	42	2	10	4	0	3		134

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Joffrey Lupul	36	16	23	39	5	36	5	0	2		106

According to the Globe and Mail, look for these lines from the Leafs:

Joffrey Lupul-Tyler Bozak-Phil Kessel

Clarke MacArthur-Tim Connolly-Nazem Kadri

Matt Frattin-Mikhail Grabovski-Nikolai Kulemin

Darryl Boyce-Dave Steckel-Joey Crabb

Keith Aulie-Dion Phaneuf

Jake Gardiner-Luke Schenn

Carl Gunnarsson-Cody Franson

Pension Plan Puppets will have even more about the Buds.

These teams have split decisions so far this season, with both teams winning respectively at home. Tuomo Ruutu has a six game point streak in play, (5G 2A). Tim Gleason, Tim Brent, and Alexei Ponikarovsky each have points in two straight.

The game will be televised locally by FS Carolinas with a pregame show at 6:30. We will also have our open thread ready to go at 6:30.

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Comments

Interesting, Dalpe stays on the top line and Bowman swaps with Tlusty. Thinking maybe Muller wants a little more experience on the top line? There will be no shortage of hustle on that 3rd line !

by Hockeydog on Dec 29, 2011 3:43 PM EST reply actions

I really like LaRose on Sutter’s line…. and with Bowman there… this could be fun to watch tonight.

by Franklnc on Dec 29, 2011 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Last season, Bowman played the last 23 games of the season on Sutter’s line, so that won’t disrupt their checking ability. Plus, I think Tlusty played well with Staal earlier in the year when Maurice tried that. While Tlusty is not a great playmaker, he has been decently physical this year and has a good shot as well as decent passing ability. Dalpe is a sniper and Staal could start seeing some rebounds come his way from that since if Toronto double teams Staal, Tlusty and Dalpe have both shown they can shoot and are big enough to play a physical game.

by Chuck Burns on Dec 29, 2011 4:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

In the last game

I was really liking Staal’s ability to create chances for Dalpe and Bowman, on a few occasions converting cross-crease passes that neither of his young linemates were able to get sticks on, Tlusty is a decent linemate for Staal, I like Dalpe’s right shot as an option on that line.

by Kubota on Dec 29, 2011 4:53 PM EST up reply actions

by Chuck Burns on Dec 29, 2011 4:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Tlusty is a left, so if Muller wants him on the first line, it would have to be Bowman that slides down and not Dalpe.

by hurricane9 on Dec 29, 2011 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

left wing, that is

by hurricane9 on Dec 29, 2011 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

The third line l

by Franklnc on Dec 29, 2011 3:49 PM EST reply actions

Is Spacek out??

by dbaerry34 on Dec 29, 2011 4:11 PM EST reply actions

Spacek is in. He took the skate this morning will play tonight.

Editing Manager of Canes Country.com

by Bob Wage on Dec 29, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

thank you

by dbaerry34 on Dec 29, 2011 4:16 PM EST reply actions

this is all well & good

refering to the line make ups for the Canes…but they will have to as a matter of “disciple” learn to play like and wil th 4 rolling lines …but we all shall see what we all shall see !! for those at the game tonight..Have fun & Be safe Please !! Talk with everyone later…got some salmon cakes to finish and prepare to cook !!

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

by CaniacSteve on Dec 29, 2011 4:20 PM EST reply actions

Gaem comes down to effort

The harder working team has won the previous games. We need to work and play Muller’s game for 60 minutes and count on our slightly weaker and less top talented team to make our bottom end talent out score theirs….

….our depth scoring has been there. Roll four lines and keep working and we’ve got a good chance of taking this one.

by Squeaky83 on Dec 29, 2011 4:35 PM EST reply actions

A few questions...

1. We haven’t heard anything on either Joni or Skinner. I am hoping that we get some feedback – after all, it has been over 2 weeks.
2. What happened (please don’t say it was Pittsburgh) to cause us to give up 52 shots the other night?
3. Has anyone (it can even be Tanya Staal) blown into Eric’s ear to see if the pilot light is lit? I’m almost wondering if sitting a game, or put him on the I-85 express for a weekend (depends on whether he would have to clear waivers I guess) or something can shake him up.

Next time we think we are due for one of those 50 save nights, can we put Tripp in goal? I wonder how he would look with the back of his neck sunburned from the goal lamp.

by jbwhite99 on Dec 29, 2011 6:59 PM EST reply actions