Game Day Hurricanes at Stars

Carolina Hurricanes at Dallas Stars
November 18, 2014 - 8:30 pm ET
American Airlines Center - Dallas TX
TV - Fox Sports South (channel guide)
Radio - 99.9 FM The Fan
SB Nation Rival Blog - Defending Big D

Fancy Stats

Game Notes

• The Canes headed out yesterday on the first leg of a three-game Western Conference road trip. They'll meet up with the Stars in Dallas tonight, from there head to LA to take on the Kings Thursday, then stop in Denver on the way home to face the Avalanche Saturday. After returning home they'll play two more away games over Thanksgiving week before returning to PNC on November 29th. The Canes are 1-6-2 on the road this season, so they'll need to significantly improve on that stat if they want to climb their way out of the NHL cellar.
• The Canes and Stars split their series last season, each winning at home with identical 4-1 final scores. The Canes haven't won in Dallas since they were the Whalers (February 11, 1996).
• Like the Canes, the Stars come into tonight's game smarting from two back-to-back losses over the weekend. Sunday's game saw the Stars take a tie game into the third period only to give up four unanswered goals to the Blackhawks for a 6-2 loss (outstanding game analysis by Daryl Reaugh btw). Slumping stars (no pun intended), defensive breakdowns, and third period collapses have left them short of expectations for a team that made the playoffs last season. They begin a five-game home stand tonight.
• Neither team held a practice yesterday, so any line-up changes from Sunday's games will be forthcoming after today's morning skates.
• Justin Faulk was awarded the game's first star (1g, 1a) in the Canes' win against the Stars back in April, which was the last time the teams met. His nine points (2g, 7a) for the month of November currently rank him second in the league in defenseman points, behind Calgary's Mark Giordano.
• Tyler Seguin leads the Stars scoring with 22 points (12g, 10a). As a point of comparison, he has as many goals as Riley Nash has points. Nash leads the Canes with 12 points.
• Keep an eye on the captains in this match-up, as both are point-per-game players against their respective opponents. Eric Staal has ten points (7g, 3a) in ten games against the Stars, and Jamie Benn has eight points (5g, 3a) in seven games against the Canes. Benn will likely be just a little hungry, as he is in a major slump, having been held without a goal for the last 11 straight games.
• And when considering potential Canes-killers, never overlook Jason Spezza, traded to Dallas from the Senators at the draft, with 38 points (18g, 20a) in 33 career games against the Canes. He ranks second on the team with 16 points (3g, 13a).
• Old friend and ex-Cane Erik Cole has seven points (4g, 3a) in 17 games. Former Cane Patrick Eaves is also on the Dallas roster and has five points (2g, 3a) on the season, but he is out of the line-up with an injury.
• Congratulations to Jay McClement who will be playing in his 700th career NHL game tonight, and congratulations to Stars legend Mike Modano on his induction last evening into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Projected line-ups

Hurricanes (from Sunday's game)

Injuries and Scratches: Jordan Staal (IR broken fibula), Jay Harrison (lower body), Alexander Semin (upper body)

Stars (from Sunday's game)

Injuries and scratches: Valeri Nichushkin (hip surgery), Patrick Eaves (lower body), Patrik Nemeth (right arm laceration), Colton Sceviour (healthy)

Note the late start and alternative channel for tonight's broadcast.