Game Day Hurricanes at Avalanche: Mile High Hockey

Carolina Hurricanes at Colorado Avalanche
November 22, 2014 - 9:00 pm ET
Pepsi Center - Denver, CO
TV - Fox Sports Carolinas
Radio - 99.9 FM The Fan
SB Nation Rival Blog - Mile High Hockey

Fancy Stats

	Hurricanes	Avalanche
Record	6-10-3	6-9-5
Points	15	17
Division Rank	7th Metro	7th Central
Conference Rank	14th EC	13th WC
Streak	Lost 1	Lost 1
Power Play %	20.0%	13.4%
Penalty Kill %	80.4%	88.3%
Goals/Game	2.37	2.35
Goals Against/Game	2.95	3.10
Shots/Game	29.1	28.7
Shots Against/Game	28.3	34.4
ES Goals For %	44.1%	44.7%
ES Corsi For %	51.8%	43.9%
PIM/Game	9.0	11.4
Goaltender	Ward	Berra
Record	6-6-1	2-2-1
ES Save Percentage	.912	.935
GAA	2.61	2.76
Goaltender	Khudobin	Pickard
Record	0-4-2	0-2-0
ES Save Percentage	.899	.891
GAA	2.97	3.65

Game Notes

• The Hurricanes achieved an important milestone when they defeated the Stars Tuesday night, their first win in Dallas since the franchise moved to Raleigh. That leaves just one remaining road venue where the Canes have never won, and they visit it tonight. The last win in Denver against the Avalanche was February 9, 1996, when they were still the Hartford Whalers.
• Newcomer Andrej Nestrasil, acquired from waivers on Thursday, met the team in Denver yesterday and skated during an optional practice. Nestrasil is a left shot but is comfortable skating on the right wing per Bill Peters, who was familiar with the young forward from their time together in Detroit. 'Nesty' sat down with Micheal Smith yesterday to talk about his first day with his new team [ch.com].
• With no formal report out from yesterday's optional practice, there really wasn't an indication of where players will line up and who will sit out tonight, so stay tuned today for further information. Nestrasil apparently skated at right wing with Riley Nash and Nathan Gerbe, a spot previously occupied by Alexander Semin, a healthy scratch Thursday. Semin practiced yesterday and then spent one-on-one time with the coach afterwards, so it will be interesting to see if he finds himself back in the line-up tonight.
• After being shut out last Sunday, Eric Staal (3g, 1a) and Jeff Skinner (2g, 1a) have goals in their last two games, and Nathan Gerbe has a two-game assist streak.
• Congratulations to Justin Faulk, who will be playing in his 200th career NHL game tonight.
• The Avalanche were riding a two-game winning streak before they lost to the Capitals on Thursday night. Twice the Caps went ahead and both times the Avs fought back to tie before falling short in a 3-2 loss. Sound familiar?
• The defeat at the hands of the Caps wasn't the only bad news the Avalanche received Thursday night. Forward Alex Tanguay's suffered a facial fracture after his face got in the way of an Alex Ovechkin shot, and Dennis Everberg left the game with a separated shoulder after a collision with Tom Wilson. It wasn't like the Avs line-up wasn't already a bit depleted. Here's their injury list:

Jesse Winchester - concussion (IR)

Patrick Bordeleau - back surgery

Jamie McGinn - back (IR)

Dennis Everberg - shoulder (IR)

Alex Tanguay - facial fracture

Brad Stuart - hamstring (IR)

Ryan Wilson - shoulder surgery (IR)

Semyon Varlamov - groin

• Forwards Andrew Agozzino, Ben Street and Tomas Vincour were called up yesterday from Lake Erie; again, we'll know more later today as to how they will be inserted into the line-up.  If Agozzino gets the call he'll be playing in his first NHL game.
• Reto Berra will get the start in net.
• Like the Hurricanes, the Avalanche are struggling to generate offense, ranking in the bottom five in the NHL in goals per game. Before Tanguay's injury, he was leading the Avalanche in scoring with seven goals. Defenseman Tyson Barrie leads in total points with 14 (2g, 12a).  Matt Duchene was the Canes-killer the last time the teams met in Denver, logging two goals and and assist.
• Finally, this stat seemed relevant.

Number to know from our notes man @andy_rosen52 ahead of tomorrow's game against the Colorado. pic.twitter.com/gxWZt4XQUQ

— Mike Sundheim (@MikeSundheim) November 21, 2014

Projected line-ups (UPDATED 2:30 pm ET)

Hurricanes

Injuries and Scratches: Jordan Staal (IR broken fibula), Zach Boychuk, Chris Terry, Jay Harrison

Avalanche

Injuries and Scratches: Jesse Winchester (IR concussion), Patrick Bordeleau (back surgery), Jamie McGinn (IR back), Dennis Everberg (IR shoulder), Alex Tanguay (facial fracture), Brad Stuart (IR hamstring), Ryan Wilson (IR shoulder surgery), Semyon Varlamov (groin), John Mitchell (leg)

It's another late night game, so make sure you have plenty of munchies. Grab a stash of brownies and Doritos, bogart the remote, and watch the Canes pot a few goals. We'll have the game thread ready to roll by 8:30.