Joe Corvo Activated: Hurricanes at Flames, Game Day Preview

The Carolina Hurricanes, (19-27-7) will close out their stay in Alberta as they take on the new look, Calgary Flames, (27-21-8) tonight at the Saddledome. 

Gone are Dion Phaneuf, Brandon Prust,  Keith Aulie, Fredrik Sjostrom, and Olli Jokinen.  Enter Ales Kotalik, Christopher Higgins, Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White, and Jamal Mayers.  Calgary will have several players looking to make an impression tonight.

While there are plenty of new faces, the most important mainstays will still be on the ice, Mikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla.  And don't forget old friend Jay Bouwmeester.  The Flames have plenty of firepower, but have lost 10 of their last 11 games with their only win coming against Edmonton.

On Monday night, the Hurricanes allowed those same Edmonton Oilers to ruin their four game winning streak.  

Steven Goertzen was recalled from Albany to fill in for Chad LaRose, but there is always a chance that Erik Cole could take the ice.  He has been a borderline decision for several days now. 

Joe Corvo was activated today, meaning that he should finally return to action.  Corvo has been out for nine weeks due to a lacerated calf.   If the defenseman does play, it will be interesting to see who sits from the blueline.

Tuomo Ruutu was placed on the IR to make room for Corvo.

Cam Ward will be in the net for the Hurricanes, making his 22nd consecutive appearance.

Team Captain Eric Staal leads the Hurricanes in scoring and has a nine game point streak.  Jussi Jokinen and Brandon Sutter have points in three straight games.

Staal and Jokinen have been on fire lately as Staal has 39 points in his last 30 games and Jokinen has 15 in his last 12. 

The game will be televised locally by FS Carolinas starting at 9 p.m. and we will have the open game thread cranked up again at 8. 

For more information about the opposition, check out Matchsticks and Gasoline.