Hurricanes At Bruins: Game Day Preview

by Bob Wage on Feb 2, 2012 4:02 PM EST

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 14: Goalkeeper Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins stops a shot by Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes during play at the RBC Center on January 14, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 4-2. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes, (18-25-9) will try to make a season sweep of the Boston Bruins, (32-14-2) tonight in Beantown. The Canes have won the first three games against the Bruins this season but have never swept this franchise in a season series.

Unfortunately for Carolina, it's about the only team they have had consistent success against this season as they currently find themselves in sole possession of 15th place in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins are in second place, just three points behind the New York Rangers.

Drayson Bowman will fill in for Chad LaRose tonight, who stayed back in Raleigh with flu-like symptoms. Jaroslav Spacek will also be back in the lineup, with Derek Joslin being the healthy scratch.

In the third period on Tuesday night, LaRose was on the the top line with Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty. Tuomo Ruutu was matched with Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Skinner. Coach Kirk Muller seemed happy with that mix and said he was looking to re-ignite the previous positive chemistry of the Finns/Skinns line. Will Bowman be with Staal, or on the fourth line, where LaRose started the game against the Islanders? Stayed tuned.

Cam Ward will be the starter and according to Stanley Cup of Chowder, will most likely face Tuukka Rask. Andrew Ference will be back in the lineup after serving a three game suspension. Look for the Bruins to come out trying to set a physical tone against Carolina.

Jeff Skinner is the hottest Cane at the moment and has points in three straight games. Tim Brent has goals in each of the last two, while Tim Gleason has assists in his last two.

Eric Staal has also been cooking of late and has 17 points in his last 14 games.

FS Carolinas will have the local broadcast, same time same station. As always, we'll have our open game thread ready at 6:30.

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Returning to the scene of the Crime

“I’m not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask”

In Kirk we Trust

by Mullett on Feb 2, 2012 4:16 PM EST reply actions

damn! beat me to it…

"The Carolina Hurricanes will keep President and General Manager Jim Rutherford for at least four more years after resigning him to a contract extension that runs through the 2015-16 season."

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 2, 2012 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

Well

We have to come out skating….Use our speed, skate through checks, and skate to the crease. We will need net presence to be successful—something we were weak on in the last game.

Boston was too soft on us last game, too gooninsh the game before. Expect them to be more physical at home while trying not to goon up. We need to be prepared to stand up for ourselves, be prepared to hit and be physical back or we will not compete.

Well see. Go Canes.

by Squeaky83 on Feb 2, 2012 4:26 PM EST reply actions

SWEEP!

by hellfish on Feb 2, 2012 5:03 PM EST reply actions

CH.com has Bowman on the 4th line, Rutuu back on the first line, and Nash centering the second line.

A sweep would be grand!

by hotchipsnsalsa on Feb 2, 2012 5:06 PM EST reply actions

I’m just hoping they don’t embarrass themselves.

by Caniac1026 on Feb 2, 2012 5:13 PM EST reply actions

Man how I hope Bowman sees some Top 9 time….he’s certainly earned it!

by NotOpie on Feb 2, 2012 5:20 PM EST reply actions

Hope and change

Nice job on the second line with Skinner

by Squeaky83 on Feb 2, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

Hoping...

the other night against the isles was a one-off. they need to use it as a mulligan, now they got their legs back after that game. pick back up where they left off pre-all-star-break.

Staal needs to come out in full on beast mode. Skinner needs to keep playing as Jeff Skinner from his Rookie season, not expecting Ref’s to call penalties all the time (b/c the Referees in the NHL completely suck, and if there is a lockout, I hope none of the ones now come back). Gleason needs to hit more and hit hard.

i also hope nobody else got sick b/c of chad larose. I know flu shots don’t completely prevent the flu, but I would hope they get them at least so they don’t get the bad flu. I know whenever I get my flu shots, I don’t get as bad of a flu, if at all, that season. :x

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

by thebl4ckd0g on Feb 2, 2012 5:22 PM EST reply actions