With Jussi Jokinen injured in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Toronto, the Carolina Hurricanes have recalled forward Jon Matsumoto on an emergency basis from Charlotte of the AHL for tonight's game at Ottawa. The team has also called up defenseman Bryan Rodney on an emergency basis, but there is no word on which defensive regular could miss the Senators game and he will fill in for Joni Pitkanen, who 99.9 The Fan's Mike Maniscalco has tweeted is out tonight. The release from the team is after the jump.
CANES RECALL MATSUMOTO, RODNEY FROM CHARLOTTE
Players recalled on an emergency basis and will meet Canes in Ottawa
RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has recalled forward Jon Matsumoto and defenseman Bryan Rodney from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). The players are being recalled on an emergency basis and will be available for the Hurricanes’ game tonight at Scotiabank Place against the Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas HD, Hurricanes Radio Network).
Matsumoto, 24, is being recalled to Carolina for the second time this season. The Ottawa, Ont., native scored two goals and averaged 7:44 of ice time in 10 games with Carolina from Nov. 1-24, his first career NHL stint. Matsumoto (6’0", 184 lbs.) has notched eight goals and earned 11 assists (19 points) in 20 AHL games this season with the Checkers. Philadelphia’s third-round pick in the 2006 Entry Draft, Matsumoto has tallied 89 goals and 103 assists (192 points) in 271 career AHL games with Philadelphia, Adirondack and Charlotte. Carolina acquired Matsumoto from the Flyers on June 26, 2010, in exchange for Carolina’s 2010 seventh-round draft pick.
Rodney, 26, returns to Carolina for the second time this season, having been reassigned to Charlotte on Dec. 19, following a two-game stint with the Hurricanes. The London, Ont., native leads Checkers blue liners in scoring, and ranks tied for 18th among AHL defensemen with 18 points (5g, 13a) in 30 games this season. Rodney (6’0", 195 lbs.) made his NHL debut with Carolina on Dec. 11, 2008, and has scored one goal and earned 12 assists (13 points) in 32 career NHL regular-season games with the Hurricanes. Carolina signed Rodney as a free agent on May 12, 2008.