Canes Make Roster Moves; Preview vs Canucks

Carolina Hurricanes vs Vancouver Canucks
January 15, 2016 - 7:00 pm ET
PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC
Fox Sports Carolinas - 99.9 FM - WRALSportsFan app
SB Nation Rivals - Nucks Misconduct

Vital Statistics

*Stats from NHL.com and War on Ice

Game Notes

• Last night in an intermission interview, Wille Lack, father of goaltender Eddie Lack, described himself to Hurricanes reporter Michelle McMahon as 'shitless nervous'. In that moment, in addition to launching a new hashtag and rallying cry (yes, it trended on twitter), the elder Lack summed up the sentiment of much of the Hurricanes fan base with a brilliant description. This hockey team, DFL in league rankings on Dec. 4, is today tied in points with the Boston Bruins, who hold the last wild spot in the Eastern Conference, thanks to a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues, their fourth straight. So now the real nervousness begins, as we all wonder whether this team really has what it takes to make a push for the playoffs, and if by doing so the future and the rebuild and the expiring contracts and the good draft position all fall by the wayside for what may amount to fool's gold. There are 19 games and 45 days between now and the trade deadline, and general manager Ron Francis is a clever and patient man with a long term view for this franchise. The Hurricanes went into St. Louis and for the first time in five years they defeated a very good Blues team and did so solidly and convincingly, and they are playing great hockey that is fun to watch. Perhaps we should just enjoy it. For now.
• On to tonight's game, which features a rematch between the Canes and Canucks, who met just nine nights ago in Vancouver. The Canes gave up a late goal to lose 3-2, and it was the last time they lost a game. Tonight they have a chance to win five games in a row, a feat they haven't accomplished since January two years ago.
• Much has changed from the Canucks' perspective since then. Ryan Miller has returned after missing eight games with a groin injury (though Jacob Markstrom will be in net for them tonight). Jake Virtanen, still on loan to the World Juniors in early January, is back in the lineup. Emerson Etem was acquired via trade, and Chris Higgins was shopped, waived, and assigned to the AHL.
• The Canucks lost in overtime to the Lightning and broke the Panthers 12-game winning streak before heading east on a six-game road trip. They were not impressive in their first road game, losing 4-1 to the Capitals last night. Like the Canes, they'll be playing tonight in the second game of a back-to-back situation.
• Daniel Sedin's next goal will pass Markus Naslund for first place on the Canucks' all-time goals list. He leads the Canucks this season in goals (19) and points (40).
• The Canes arrived back in Raleigh last night around 1:15 am (about an hour behind the Canucks) and will not hold a morning skate, but they are making roster moves (press release follows below). Nathan Gerbe, who missed 25 games with an ankle injury, has been activated from injured reserve. Additionally, Phillip Di Giuseppe (returning from a concussion) and Brock McGinn have been assigned to the Charlotte Checkers. For purposes of tonight's lineup, Riley Nash may move to the line with Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner, allowing Gerbe to draw in on the fourth line, or Chris Terry may draw back in there. If there are any further lineup updates, we'll pass them along. Cam Ward is expected to start in net tonight but that has not been confirmed by the team.
• Jeff Skinner has scored a goal (and has an assist) in two straight games.
• After going without a goal with the man advantage in eight straight games, the Canes now have a power play goal in each of their last four games, and the penalty kill percentage has entered the top half of the league's rankings.
• Congratulations to Ron Hainsey, who will play in his 800th career NHL game tonight.

Projected Lineups

Hurricanes (1/14 vs Blues)

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

Ron Hainsey - Justin Faulk 
John-Michael Liles - Brett Pesce
Noah Hanifin - Jaccob Slavin
Michal Jordan

Cam Ward
Eddie Lack

Injuries and scratches: James Wisniewski (IR ACL)

Canucks (1/14 vs Capitals)

Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Derek Dorsett
Sven Baertschi - Bo Horvat - Radim Vrbata
Emerson Etem - Linden Vey - Jake Virtanen
Brandon Prust - Jared McCann - Alexandre Burrows
Adam Cracknell

Alexander Edler - Christopher Tanev
Alex Biega - Yannik Weber
Ben Hutton - Matt Bartkowski
Taylor Fedun

Jacob Markstrom
Ryan Miller

Injuries and Scratches: Brandon Sutter (IR sports hernia surgery), Dan Hamhuis (IR facial surgery), Luca Sbisa (IR hand), Jannik Hansen (upper body)

Canes Activate Nathan Gerbe From Injured Reserve

(press release)

Di Giuseppe and McGinn reassigned to Charlotte
Friday, 01.15.2016 / 11:25 AM ET / News
By Ken Preston

RALEIGH, NC - Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has activated forward Nathan Gerbe from injured reserve. The team also reassigned forwards Phil Di Giuseppe and Brock McGinn to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Gerbe, 28, suffered an ankle injury on Nov. 22 against Los Angeles, and has missed the team's last 25 games. The Oxford, MI, native is in his third season with the Hurricanes, and has scored one goal and earned two assists (3 points) in 20 games this season. A fifth-round (142nd overall) pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2005, Gerbe (5'5", 178 lbs.) has scored 56 goals and earned 78 assists (134 points) in 367 career NHL regular-season games with Buffalo and Carolina.