The Carolina Hurricanes, (14-23-7) will try to turn around their road woes as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, (17-20-4) tonight at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. The Canes have won just a single road game since Kirk Muller took over as coach.
There has been much buzz about this, but while Jeff Skinner has been cleared to practice, he will not play in tonight's game. Jaroslav Spacek, who was injured on Tuesday night against the Flyers, will play tonight, but the Carolina lineup is unsettled.
Derek Joslin was recalled today from Charlotte and Muller said that he might go with seven defensemen tonight. Then again, maybe not.
We will wait until tonight to see what the lines will be.
Cam Ward should start in net and he will face Matthieu Garon.
For information about the Bolts, check out Raw Charge.
Tampa Bay has lost four in a row and Carolina has lost four of their last five. The Canes just lost in Tampa, 5-2 on New Year's Eve, (Steven Stamkos hat trick) and have lost two of three to the Bolts so far this season.
Eric Staal has points in three straight games, (1G 4A).
"Southleast"? The Canes are 1-7-2 so far against teams in their own division.
The game will be televised tonight with the game preview at 7 and puck drop just past 7:30. We will have our open game thread ready to go at 7.