The Chicago Blackhawks are in town to face the Carolina Hurricanes and the game will be played as scheduled, regardless of the ice, snow, or the governor declared "state of emergency".
Local authorities are warning folk to stay off the roads, so if you can not attend the game tonight the Hurricanes are offering to exchange your tickets to this game for any other future game this season. Also, if you can make it to the RBC, there will be free parking.
The Canes have been hot of late and have won three games in a row, as well as four of their last five. They are led by new captain Eric Staal, who has scored eight goals in his last five games and has 37 points in his last 28 games since returning from an injury.
Cam Ward has also done very well between the pipes and has a GAA of 2.13 and save percentage of .934 over his last 16 games. Ward has appeared in 21 consecutive games for the Canes and will start again tonight.
The Blackhawks are one of the best teams in the NHL and are currently just one point behind the Western Conference leading San Jose Sharks. They are led in scoring by "20 cent" Patrick Kane, who has been in the news again recently because of his off- ice behavior.
Defenseman Duncan Keith is next in line for the high-scoring 'Hawks.
According to Second City Hockey, the Chicago's lines are as follows: (updated)
Brouwer-Toews-Kane
Ladd-Sharp-Hossa
Versteeg-Madden-ByfuglienBickell-Fraser-Kopecky-Eager
Keith - Seabrook
Campbell - Hjalmarsson
Sopel-Hendry- Barker
The Hurricanes will probably stick with the same lines which have been successful for them in recent games:
- Staal, Jokinen, Whitney
- Cullen, Kostopoulos, Samsonov
- Sutter, Tlusty, LaRose
- Yelle, Brind'Amour, Dwyer
The game will be televised locally by FS Carolinas starting at 7 tonight. We will have the open game thread cranked up at 6:30.
(A couple people asked if I would be attending. It will be a game time decision).