Game Day: Hurricanes at Jets 10-21-14

Carolina Hurricanes at Winnipeg Jets
October 21, 2014 - 8:00 pm ET
MTS Centre - Winnipeg, MB
TV - Fox Sports Carolinas
Radio - 99.9 FM The Fan
SB Nation Rival Blog - Arctic Ice Hockey

Fancy Stats

	Hurricanes	Jets
Record	0-2-2	1-4-0
Points	2	2
Division Rank	8th Metro	7th Central
Conference Rank	15th EC	13th WC
Streak	OT 2	Lost 4
Power Play %	26.7%	0.0%
Penalty Kill %	73.3%	95.2%
Goals/Game	2.50	1.60
Goals Against/Game	3.25	3.00
Shots/Game	25.8	30.6
Shots Against/Game	29.2	28.2
ES Goals For %	40.0%	33.3%
ES Corsi For %	49.7%	48.6%
PIM/Game	12.8	19.0
Goaltender	Khudobin	Pavelec
Record	0-1-1	1-3-0
ES Save Percentage	.943	.895
GAA	2.44	2.61
Goaltender	Ward	Hutchinson
Record	0-1-1	0-1-0
ES Save Percentage	.842	.727
GAA	3.87	8.18

Game Notes

• As of last night's Edmonton Oilers win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, your Carolina Hurricanes are now the only team in the NHL without a win in 2014-15.  They will look to remedy that situation as they embark on a four-game road trip through western Canada over the next week. The Winnipeg Jets are first on the docket tonight, followed by back-to-back games against the Flames and Oilers on Thursday and Friday, and wrapping up with Vancouver next Tuesday night.
• The story to date has been injuries that have plagued the Canes early and often, but good news is finally on the horizon. With the exception of Jordan Staal, all the other injured players are nearing a return to the line-up. Jeff Skinner will return tonight after receiving medical clearance on his concussion and an activation from IR on Friday. Andrej Sekera has skated several days with the team and is probable (but not confirmed) to return tonight after missing one game. John-Michael Liles skated with the team in no-contact gear yesterday, and Eric Staal skated before the team practice. The two of them, along with Patrick Dwyer and Nathan Gerbe, could return before the end of the road trip.
• Unless there is some type of transaction today, there are only 11 forwards available tonight. Ryan Murphy pulled the extra forward duty in yesterday's practice, so it's likely seven defensemen will dress. The starting goaltender has not been announced (more details from practice via audio from Bill Peters).
• Chris Terry is riding a two-game goal scoring streak. Alex Semin is four points away from 500 NHL points, and Jeff Skinner is a mere hat trick away from 100 NHL goals.
• Paul Maurice is dropping f-bombs, y'all. After a convincing win over the Coyotes to start the season, the Jets have dropped four straight, and the former Hurricanes coach took his new team to task (as did the fans) after a 4-1 loss to the Flames Sunday (here's a portion of the video). Tonight is exactly the kind of rally game a Paul Maurice-coached team would go out and win. Okay, tie. Whatever. The opposing players will be riled up which doesn't usually bode well for the Canes, although the road team has won 18 of the last 24 meetings.
• For the second straight game the Canes are facing an opponent who has not previously scored a power play goal. The Jets are 0-for-14 on the season with the man advantage. Their fortunes are reversed on the penalty kill, where they rank third in the league with an impressive 95.2% penalty kill rate. The Jets had killed off 18 straight penalties before allowing a power play goal Sunday.
• Outside of their first game, the Jets haven't been able to put points on the board, scoring just 2 goals in their four losses. Blake Wheeler leads the Jets in scoring with four points (2g, 2a). Captain and former Cane Andrew Ladd has one assist and is a minus -5 through five games.
• Line-ups are speculative based on how the Canes last practiced and how the Jets lined up Sunday (they didn't practice yesterday). We'll have updates later today after the teams hold their morning skates.

Projected line-ups

Hurricanes (from yesterday's practice)

Injuries: Jordan Staal (IR broken fibula), Patrick Dwyer (IR lower body), John-Michael Liles (DTD upper body), Eric Staal (DTD upper body), Nathan Gerbe (DTD lower body)

Jets (from Sunday's game)

Injuries and Scratches: Evander Kane (IR knee), Matt Halischuk, Grant Clitsome

A later start tonight in the Central Time Zone. We'll have the open game thread ready to roll by 7:30. See you there.