Hurricanes at Sharks: Preview

Carolina Hurricanes at San Jose Sharks
October 24, 2015 - 10:30 pm ET
SAP Center - San Jose, CA
Fox Sports Carolinas - 99.9 FM - WRALSportsFan app
SB Nation Rivals - Fear The Fin

Vital Statistics

*Stats from NHL.com and War on Ice

Game Notes

• After a fruitless effort last night in Los Angeles that yielded many shots but few quality scoring chances and zero pucks in the back of the net, the Hurricanes will head to Northern California to see if they can locate some meaningful offense there.
• The Canes have now gone six straight regulation periods without scoring a goal, and they are two-for-29 for the season on the power play (thank you Justin Faulk for the two goals).
• But in the good news department, they have fared well against the Sharks over the last few seasons, winning seven of the last nine meetings and scoring three or more goals in nine of their last 11 games. Elias Lindholm and Faulk can be given much of the credit for that success, tallying 11 points (7 for Lindholm, 4 for Faulk) in four career games. The teams split wins last season, each winning on the road (Canes won 5-4 in San Jose on February 7th).
• The Sharks came out of the gate quickly this season, winning their first four games, but then have dropped their last three, the most recent a 4-1 loss to the Kings on home ice Thursday night. They've been hampered by a few injuries, losing Logan Couture to a broken fibula and losing Paul Martin to a lower body injury, though Martin may be back tonight. Joe Pavelski leads the Sharks with six points (2g, 4a) and Brent Burns leads the team in time on ice (26:10/game).
• Martin Jones is probable to start in net tonight, winning the starting job for the Sharks after serving as the understudy to Jonathan Quick for two seasons with the Kings. Jones has not previously faced the Canes in his career. Backup Alex Stalock is 0-1-1 in two prior starts against the Canes.
• Andrej Nestrasil left last night's game in the second period after blocking a shot, and his status is questionable for tonight. If he is unable to play, Riley Nash may be able to draw back in; Nash has been out with a shoulder injury but has been participating in full practices with the team since Tuesday. With the back-to-back games and a loss last night, Brett Pesce may draw in on defense in his NHL debut, and Eddie Lack may get the start in net, but that is just speculation at this time and has not been reported by the team.
• With both rosters likely to change as the teams go through their morning skates, projected lineups won't be posted until later this afternoon. Check back for additional information as it becomes available.
• UPDATE 3:30 pm: For the Sharks, Paul Martin will return to the line-up tonight. Forward John McCarthy was called up from the AHL affiliate San Jose Barracuda and will make his season debut. For the Canes, there is no formal update. The team is apparently not skating today. Bill Peters met with San Jose media and gave the updates that Eddie Lack will start in net and Andrej Nestrasil is not 100% but Riley Nash should be cleared to play. No updates on defense or whether Brett Pesce will draw in, but that decision may be dependent on the forward situation in case they have to dress seven defensemen. UPDATE 6:15 PM: Pesce will make his NHL debut, Michal Jordan will be the healthy extra on defense.

Projected Lineups

Hurricanes - from last night's game, no skate today so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Eric Staal - Victor Rask - Elias Lindholm
Nathan Gerbe - Jordan Staal - Brock McGinn
Jeff Skinner - Riley Nash - Kris Versteeg
Brad Malone - Jay McClement - Chris Terry

Ron Hainsey - Justin Faulk 
John-Michael Liles - Brett Pesce
Noah Hanifin - Ryan Murphy

Eddie Lack
Cam Ward

Injuries and scratches: James Wisniewski (IR - ACL), Joakim Nordstrom (lower body), Andrej Nestrasil (lower body)

Sharks - from morning skate

Matt Nieto - Joe Thornton - Joe Pavelski
Patrick Marleau - Tomas Hertl - Joel Ward
Barclay Goodrow - Chris Tierney - Tommy Wingels
John McCarthy - Bryan Lerg - Mike Brown

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Justin Braun
Paul Martin - Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon - Matt Tennyson

Martin Jones (confirmed starter)
Alex Stalock

Injuries and Scratches: Joonas Donskoi (lower body), Ben Smith (facial cuts), Logan Couture (fractured right fibula), Mirco Mueller (healthy)