Another Line Change: Flyers At Hurricanes, Game Day Preview

by Bob Wage on Jan 10, 2012 2:21 PM EST in Carolina Hurricanes Game Day Previews

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 21: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers gets knocked off his skates as he pursues the puck along with Justin Faulk #28 of the Carolina Hurricanes at the Wells Fargo Center on November 21, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes, (14-22-7) will change up their lines again as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers, (24-12-4) tonight at the RBC. As was reported earlier, Chad LaRose is out with an injury, and Jerome Samson will be taking his spot.

The Hurricanes coaches are switching things up again, as they look for more balance tonight against the loaded Flyers. Look for the following lines:

Tlusty, Staal, Ruutu
Dwyer, Sutter, Nodl
Samson, Jokinen, Ponikarovsky
Stewart, Brent, Sutter
Gleason, McBain
Harrison, Faulk
Allen, Spacek

Cam Ward will start in goal and will face Sergei Bobrovsky, who has outplayed high dollar free agent acquisition, Ilya Bryzgalov so far this year.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2011 - Cam Ward	36	2072	14	15		110	3.19	1079	969	.898	1

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2011 - Sergei Bobrovsky	15	773	8	3		33	2.56	382	349	.914	0

The Hurricanes and Flyers have met three times so far this season, with the Canes losing two of three.

The Flyers are led by Claude Giroux who has 48 points in 36 games. After missing a couple of games because of a concussion, he's back and doing damage for the Flyboys.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Claude Giroux	36	18	30	48	5	16	5	0	5		101

Chip Alexander caught up with him today.

Giroux has felt Skinner's pain

Watch out for the sharpshooter tonight. He has seven points, (3G 4A) in just three games against the Canes this season.

For more info about the Flyers, check out our top notch partners at Broad Street Hockey, as well as the group over at the BuzzonBroad.

With Peter Laviolette coming back to town, it reminds many fans of better days. Luke DeCock had an excellent article this morning regarding the franchise's reluctance to recognize the coach's achievement of winning the Cup, as well as owner Peter Karmanos' criticism of said coach.

Canes should give Laviolette his due

We talked about the incident here on the blog after it happened: Karmanos Blasts Laviolette. I think most objective people would agree that they prefer Laviolette's win/loss record as a coach, versus Karmanos' win/loss record as an owner. 'Nuff said.

Samson is looking forward to getting more playing time and a better chance to show his stuff tonight. Michael Smith has more in his game day article:

Samson excited about elevated role

Brandon Sutter is currently the hottest Hurricane and has points in three straight games, (2G 2A).

The Canes are 5-1-1 in their last seven games at home. Jussi Jokinen has scored 15 points in 15 career games against the Flyers. Can he get unglued tonight? Cam Ward is 5-9-2 career against this team. Bobrovsky is 3-1 liftetime against Carolina.

The game will be televised locally by FS Carolinas. We'll have our open game thread ready at 6:30.

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Comments

"Sinner's Pain"???

guessing that’s a typo.

nodl on the second line? that should be interesting.

I've discovered who that woman was having the heart attack when Staal scored: The Love Boat's Lauren Tewes!

by Capt. Stinky on Jan 10, 2012 2:46 PM EST reply actions

laughs,…and what a typo

Editing Manager of Canes Country.com

by Bob Wage on Jan 10, 2012 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

If you aren't going all the way, why go at all? - Joe Namath

It’s been a while………..but here goes…..shaky shaky shaky……“you may rely on it”

So maybe tonight is the night we turn this thing around, maybe now we have all the folks on board to right the ship………..it’s all or nothing we need to make a move now if we are to be a playoff contender…………

by littlepig on Jan 10, 2012 2:46 PM EST reply actions

I kinda like the lines for what muller has to work with. We just need 1 healthy skinner and a Claude Giroux…. Well dang I guess we ain’t getting those for this game.

by jerry6racing on Jan 10, 2012 2:53 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Dwyer-Sutter16-Nodl will be a fast skating line. Dwyer and Sutter are the teams two best shutdown forwards, so Nodl will have to play a good two way game tonight to keep up with those two. Another bit of psychology by Muller in giving Nodl plenty of opportunity to show the Flyers they made a mistake. I hope they did !!

by Hockeydog on Jan 10, 2012 2:59 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, fast, but then again, not a very big line

Might be OK against Philly, might not…. I’m concerned that Sutter keeps getting paired with the smaller guys on the team as a defensive line against the top guys. Jagr is big and powerful, Hartnell will be throwing hits around, Giroux is wicked shifty and good. Tough line for these guys to contain.

by Squeaky83 on Jan 10, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

They are going to be decimated. I predict that line will be atrocious tonight.

by hurricane9 on Jan 10, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

Well, that’s my hint….not sure if Jagr is playing or injured or playing injured still with his groin issues. I’m sure Tripp will somehow elaborate on it.

by Squeaky83 on Jan 10, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

Not a lot of teams having a great deal of success against that Flyers line if they are rolling.

by Hockeydog on Jan 10, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

I am sure the Flyers are really worried by that Canes line up.

by rmmeli on Jan 10, 2012 4:10 PM EST reply actions

Unfortunately I see the Canes playing their hearts out and keeping this one close for a while, then the sheer horsepower of the Flyers taking over and pulling away. A victory tonight would be 60 minutes of no quit in the boys.

by Hockeydog on Jan 10, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah our hope would be a Cam steal. But this year’s Cam hasn’t looked like he’s that kind of guy….

by Squeaky83 on Jan 10, 2012 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

I would like to see Dwyer and Stewart switch lines.

by hellfish on Jan 10, 2012 4:25 PM EST reply actions

Dwyer and Stewart Switching Lines

I, too, thought it would be a good idea to switch Dwyer and Stewart. Stewart has been getting some more shifts up from the fourth line, so maybe tonight he can move up and stay up.

by abramsdoug on Jan 10, 2012 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

If these lines don’t convince you of our lack of talent, nothing will. Buckle up folks, this is going to be a rough ride.

by playwithpride on Jan 10, 2012 5:21 PM EST reply actions

If you think the lines look thin with the status quo, take out your eraser and remove Ruutu from the lineup. How are things looking now?

by abramsdoug on Jan 10, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

only slightly different. i like ruutu but hes not a centerpiece of the team. rent him at the deadline, says i, his contract is up this year and its not like you need him for a playoff run. why not get something back like a pick or something?

/discussing what happens with a pick or a prospect is a different matter, but still

I am not a heavy drinker. I can sometimes go for hours without touching a drop --Noel Coward

by DaveLovesBier on Jan 10, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions

Jussi down centering the 3rd line, I sure hope that gets him jump-started.

And what is the deal with Stewart? He’s 8th on the team in goals, 1st in +/-, and 2nd in shooting %; all while being 24th in average TOI. I don’t believe he is the answer to our problems, but why isn’t he getting more of a shot? What has he done to both coaches to get locked down to the 4th line.

Staal & Dalpe; The New Dynamic Duo or The Canes Crusaders!

by PackPride17 on Jan 10, 2012 5:29 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Inverse relationship of TOI and +/-

On this years Canes the surest predictor of positve plus/minus is low TOI.

by surgalt on Jan 10, 2012 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

Ah yes, the lean years. Those lines look AHL worthy. We have to support Cam better, and Cam has to regain consistency. I’m looking forward to the youth movement though.

by Cincinnati Reds on Jan 10, 2012 6:03 PM EST reply actions

It can be so brutal..

A down year is always so hard to take. As a fan, all you can hope for are steps that show promise of a brighter future. I think Muller and staff are a good change and bring a style and pace that will breed success. The organ-EYE-zay-shun has shown promise in decent drafting and seems stocked with both forward and defensive talent that must soon emerge in Raleigh. It is hard to see, however, the status quo line up especially with out Skinner and minus at least one of the young guys like Bowman, Dalpe or Boychuk. I guess we can expect the same saw toothed results as the tinkering, auditioning and testing occur for the remainder of the year. I am cautious about my expectations regarding trades. I wonder how much the imminent CBA negotiation will impact an already very conservative approach to trading.

"Forget about style; worry about results."
Bobby Orr

by Caniac233 on Jan 10, 2012 6:46 PM EST reply actions

I was at the game tonight, the team played much better than I expected. Cam looked good and Staal actually fired a shot off the pass. this team should be able to beat the big boys but I’m happy to see they dialed it up and turned in respectable effort.

by playwithpride on Jan 10, 2012 10:41 PM EST reply actions