Hurricanes vs Lightning: Preview

Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning
November 1, 2015 - 5:00 pm ET
PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC
Fox Sports Carolinas - 99.9 FM - WRALSportsFan app
SB Nation Rivals - Raw Charge

Vital Statistics

*Stats from NHL.com and War on Ice

Game Notes

• The Tampa Bay Lightning are not behaving like defending Eastern Conference champions. They are on a four game winless streak, including two losses in a row on home ice, where they were dominant last season. During those four games they have not scored an even-strength goal, and have only scored two total goals, both on the power play. They lost 3-1 to the Bruins last night before flying to Raleigh to complete a weekend set of back-to-back games.
• Big news is expected today from the Lightning and it's about the likely return of Andrei Vasilevskiy. The goaltender missed the start of the season recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot. He was cleared to join the Lightning roster last week and has gone 2-0 in a conditioning stint with the Syracuse Crunch. If he is activated today, he is expected to get the start to relieve Ben Bishop, who has started 11 of 12 games so far for the Lightning.
• So what this means to the home team facing them tonight... Well, the Lightning have had the Hurricanes' number for a while now, winning nine out of the last eleven games played between the two clubs and outscoring the Canes by a 33-11 margin in those nine wins. The Lightning have won five of their last six games played at PNC Arena. Judging from last night's post-game comments (linked below), they're a bit angry with themselves, all of which should make for a challenging time to build upon a three-game win streak.
• Bill Peters' team took the ice yesterday for the last practice of October with a November goal to get into the top eight of the Eastern Conference by 'American' Thanksgiving. Expect very few changes to today's lineup, necessitated primarily by the injury to Elias Lindholm, which doesn't appear to be long-term but will require line shuffling today. Andrej Nestrasil will draw back in. Joakim Nordstrom practiced with the team but is not expected to be in the lineup tonight, and Michal Jordan will most likely remain the healthy extra on defense.
• Justin Faulk leads all NHL defensemen and is tied with three forwards at the top of the leader board for power play goals (4). He also leads the league in power play shots (19), and is tied with Kris Versteeg for the team lead in points (7). Eric Staal has 69 points (32g, 37a) in 64 career games against the Lightning.
• With the early start time neither team will hold a pre-game skate today. As updates are made available we will pass them along.

Projected Lineups

Hurricanes (from Saturday's practice)

Eric Staal - Victor Rask - Kris Versteeg
Nathan Gerbe - Jordan Staal - Brock McGinn
Jeff Skinner - Riley Nash - Chris Terry
Brad Malone - Jay McClement - Andrej Nestrasil
Joakim Nordstrom

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

Cam Ward
Eddie Lack

Injuries and scratches: James Wisniewski (IR - ACL), Elias Lindholm (lower body)

Lightning (from Saturday's game)

Alex Killorn - Steven Stamkos - Ryan Callahan
Ondrej Palat - Tyler Johnson - Nikita Kucherov
Vladislav Namestnikov - Valtteri Filppula - Erik Condra
J.T. Brown - Brian Boyle - Jonathan Marchessault

Anton Stralman - Victor Hedman
Braydon Coburn - Jason Garrison
Nikita Nesterov - Andrej Sustr

Ben Bishop
Kristers Gudlevskis

Injuries and Scratches: Jonathan Drouin (lower body), Cedric Paquette (ankle), Andrei Vasilevskiy (blood clot), Matthew Carle (healthy)

Storm Debris

• Bill Peters post-practice audio, 10/31 [CH.com]
• Six thoughts as the Hurricanes streak into November [CH.com].
• Versteeg, Peters talk about the Hurricanes power play [TriangleSportsNet].
• Canes prospect Warren Foegele (67th overall, 3rd round 2014) has left University of New Hampshire (where he was in his second year) for the OHL Kingston Frontenacs [Frontenacs Press Release].
• Roanoke, Virginia, is getting an SPHL hockey team. Why is this news? Because 67% of the ownership group has the last name McGinn [Roanoke Times].
• Today also begins Movember, a month of glorious mustaches grown to raise awareness for cancers affecting men. Once again an impressive number of Canes players will let their facial hair take the stage. For more details on the participants, and how to pledge support, check out the Movember fan page [CH.com].
• Post-game video from Jon Cooper and Lightning players after last night's game, 10/31 vs. Bruins  [Lightning.com].
• When goalie Vasilevskiy returns to Lightning, expect more starts [TB Times].
• Tonight's game is a designated Family Night with discount tickets for a game four-pack. There is also a South Plaza party before the game and a Slap Shot Sunday after the game. Check the Promotions Page on the Canes website for more details [CH.com].
• The Canes also have a special ticket promotion underway with a charitable focus. The purchase offer has been extended through tomorrow (Monday) and features deep discounts on select tickets in the arena for two upcoming games (Flyers on 11/14 and Kings on 11/22). A portion of proceeds from ticket sales using promo code 'TURKEY' will go to providing turkeys to non-profit organizations in the Triangle. Check out the promo below and pick up some tickets for yourself (or to donate to others) for a good cause.