After an eight day break, the Carolina Hurricanes, (18-24-9) are back in action tonight as they host the New York Islanders, (19-22-7) in a match between bottom feeders of the Eastern Conference. These teams just met on January 21st on the island and the Hurricanes lost in overtime as John Tavares netted the game winner.
The Canes are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and feel happy with the way they had been playing before the break. They want to continue to pick up points, anyway they can. The Isles are 5-4-1 in their last 10.
Riley Nash was recently recalled from Charlotte while Jerome Samson was sent back down earlier today. Chad LaRose will return to the lineup tonight, but Jaroslav Spacek remains out.
According to Hurricanes writer Michael Smith, Jeff Skinner is getting moved back to winger and the lines will start out as following:
- Tlusty, Staal, Ruutu
- Jokinen, Nash, Skinner
- Dwyer, Sutter, Nodl
- LaRose, Brent, Stewart
- Allen, Gleason
- Faulk, Harrison
- McBain, Joslin
Cam Ward will be starting in net.
This is the third of four meetings between the teams this season and Carolina has lost both previous games, one in a shootout and one in overtime.
For information from the Islanders perspective, check out Lighthouse Hockey.
Skinner has goals in two straight games and is second on the team in goals scored, even though he has missed 16 games. Cam Ward has had a red hot month of January and put up a .949 save percentage in his last 10 games.
The game will be televised locally by FS Carolinas, same time, same station. We will have our open game thread ready to go at 6:30.