Hurricanes Announce Six-Game Preseason Schedule; Add Two Depth Defensemen

The Carolina Hurricanes unveiled its 2013 preseason schedule Thursday, a six-game slate that includes home-and-home games with Buffalo and Columbus, plus two games vs. the Canadiens — one in Montreal, the other in Quebec City.

The preseason kicks off at PNC Arena Sept. 18, when Carolina will host the Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. The Hurricanes will three of the next four on the road before finishing out their exhibition campaign at home against the Sabres at 7 p.m.

The team also announced the signing of 28-year-old defenseman Mark Flood — a veteran with 39 career NHL games played who played in the KHL last season and will be in second tour of duty with the organization — and fellow blueliner Matthew Corrente, a former first-round pick of New Jersey who spent the last two seasons in the AHL with Albany after spending parts of two years with the Devils.

The two releases from the team follow.

HURRICANES ANNOUNCE 2013 EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
Carolina to host Columbus and Buffalo at PNC Arena; Individual-game tickets on sale Sept. 6

RALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced the team’s 2013 exhibition schedule. Individual-game tickets for both of the team’s preseason games, and all 41 regular-season games at PNC Arena will go on sale on Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.

The Hurricanes will open their six-game preseason schedule at PNC Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 18, against the Columbus Blue Jackets. That game will be the first of four games in four nights for Carolina, as the team will play at Buffalo on Sept. 19 before opening a two-game set against the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 20, in Quebec City. The game against the Canadiens at the Pepsi Colisse in Quebec City will be a home game for Carolina, and the teams will round out the two-game set on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Bell Centre. The Hurricanes will wrap up their exhibition schedule with a back-to-back set, at Columbus on Sept. 26, and against Buffalo at PNC Arena on Sept. 27.

Carolina Hurricanes 2013 Exhibition Schedule

Day Date Opponent Time* Venue

Wed. Sept. 18 Columbus 7 p.m. PNC Arena

Thu. Sept. 19 at Buffalo 7 p.m. First Niagara Center

Fri. Sept. 20 Montreal 7:30 p.m. Pepsi Colisse (Quebec City)

Sat. Sept. 21 at Montreal 7 p.m. Bell Centre

Thu. Sept. 26 at Columbus 7 p.m. Nationwide Arena

Fri. Sept. 27 Buffalo 7 p.m. PNC Arena

* ALL TIMES EASTERN

‘CANES AGREE TO TERMS WITH FLOOD AND CORRENTE
Experienced defensemen add depth to organization

RALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defensemen Mark Flood and Matt Corrente (kohr-REHN-tay) on one-year, two-way contracts. Flood’s deal will pay him $550,000 on the NHL level or $175,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level, with a guarantee of at least $225,000. Corrente’s deal will pay him $550,000 on the NHL level or $90,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level, with a guarantee of at least $105,000.

"Mark is a veteran defenseman with some NHL experience, who we are familiar with from being a part of our organization in the past," said Karmanos. "Matt is a physical and versatile player capable of contributing at defense or forward. He has had some injuries the past few seasons but is 100 percent healthy now."

Flood, 28, played for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in 2012-13, earning six points (1g, 5a) and 25 penalty minutes in 52 regular-season games. The Charlottetown, P.E.I., native established NHL career highs in games played (33), goals (3), assists (4) and points (7) with the Winnipeg Jets in 2011-12. Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the sixth round (188th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Flood (6’1", 190 lbs.) has earned eight points (3g, 5a) in 39 career NHL games with the New York Islanders and Winnipeg. He spent three seasons as a part of the Hurricanes organization from 2006-09, playing for the Albany River Rats, and was a teammate of Hurricanes captain Eric Staal during his junior career with Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Corrente, 25, appeared in 11 games with Albany (AHL) last season, earning two assists and totaling 32 penalty minutes, but missed the majority of the season due to a shoulder injury. The Mississauga, Ont., native was a first-round selection (30th overall) of the New Jersey Devils in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, and has played 34 career NHL games with New Jersey, totaling six assists and 68 penalty minutes. Corrente (6’0", 205 lbs.) has totaled 13 goals and 36 assists (49 points) and 350 penalty minutes in 163 career AHL games with Lowell and Albany.