Game Day Canes vs Avalanche

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Colorado Avalanche
January 13, 2015 - 7:00 pm ET
PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC
TV - Fox Sports South --- Note Broadcast Change
Radio - 99.9 FM The Fan
SB Nation Rival Blog - Mile High Hockey

Fancy Stats

	Hurricanes	Avalanche
Record	13-24-5	18-17-8
Points	31	44
Division Rank	8th Metro	5th Central
Conference Rank	16th EC	10th WC
Streak	OT 1	Lost 1
Power Play %	17.8%	14.7%
Penalty Kill %	86.7%	85.1%
Goals/Game	2.05	2.51
Goals Against/Game	2.57	2.84
Shots/Game	29.3	28.6
Shots Against/Game	27.7	34.2
ES Goals For %	41.3%	50.0%
ES Corsi For %	51.2%	44.3%
ES PDO	96.9	101.2
PIM/Game	7.8	10.7
Goaltender	Ward	Varlamov
Record	11-16-3	10-9-5
ES Save Percentage	.913	.911
GAA	2.40	2.74
Goaltender	Khudobin	Pickard
Record	2-8-2	6-6-2
ES Save Percentage	.905	.948
GAA	2.55	2.21

Stats via NHL.com and War on Ice

Game Notes

• The Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche close out their two-game season series tonight. The teams met in Denver on November 22nd, where the Canes have never won since the franchise moved to Raleigh. Thing were looking good early, and the Canes jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period, chasing starting goaltender Reto Berra from the crease. But rookie netminder Calvin Pickard was up to the task, shutting down the Canes the rest of the way, and the Avalanche ultimately prevailed in a come-from-behind 4-3 victory for Pickard's first NHL win. Recalled yesterday from Lake Erie, he'll get the nod against the Canes again tonight, 6-6-2 on the season with a 2.21 GAA and .934 save percentage.
• The Canes should be healthy and well-rested for tonight's match. Coming off Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss against the St. Louis Blues, they had a scheduled day off on Sunday and all players were present and accounted for at yesterday's practice.
• There were no announced line-up changes coming out of yesterday's practice. John-Michael Liles was a healthy scratch Saturday, but given that Bill Peters has typically pulled players into the line-up against their former teams, and Liles did have a goal against his former club in the November game, it's possible he'll draw back into tonight's line-up. More updates should be available after the morning skate. (Update 11:30 am: Chris Terry and Brett Bellemore are the healthy extras; Anton Khudobin will start in net).
• After scoring just 18 goals in 14 games during the month of December, the Canes have now scored 15 goals in five games in January, and an improved 3-1-1 record is the result. They boast the fourth-best penalty kill in the league (86.7%) and have been perfect on the PK for 10 straight games. Three players (Eric Staal, Victor Rask, and Jeff Skinner) have three-game point streaks, and four players (Alexander Semin, Nathan Gerbe, Riley Nash, and Ryan Murphy) have points in two straight games.
• The Colorado Avalanche had won three straight games before losing 2-1 to the Washington Capitals last night in their first game of a five-game road trip. Alex Tanguay scored the lone goal for the Avalanche, breaking an eight-game goalless streak.
• The Avs started the season slow and with a long list of injuries. Since they faced the Canes in November, they've improved two spots in the Central Division and three spots in the Western Conference. They are still on the outside looking in but only four points out of a wild card spot.
• Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov was awarded the NHL's second star last week with a 3-0-0 record and a franchise-setting 127 saves.
• Jarome Iginla (12g, 16a) and Alex Tanguay (13g, 15a) are tied at the top of the Avs leader board with 28 points.
• The Avalanche traveled to Raleigh last night and will play their second game of a back-to-back tonight, so in all likelihood they won't practice today and any updates to their line-up will be forthcoming later in the day.

Projected line-ups

Hurricanes depth chart (Updated 11:30 am from Tuesday morning skate)

Injuries and Scratches: Andrej Nestrasil (IR upper body), Chris Terry (healthy), Brett Bellemore (healthy)

Avalanche depth chart (from Monday's game)

Injuries and Scratches: Patrick Bordeleau (IR fractured kneecap), Jamie McGinn (IR back surgery), Ben Street (IR hand), Jesse Winchester (IR concussion), Ryan Wilson (IR shoulder surgery), Zach Redmond (healthy)

The Canes are back in black, and it's Teacher Appreciation Night with special ticket discounts (click here for details). Bring a new book for the Hurricanes Book Drive and enter to win signed Canes memorabilia. Good seats are still available. Sports South if you're looking for the show on your TV provider.