Hurricanes vs Flames: Preview

Carolina Hurricanes vs Calgary Flames
January 24, 2016 - 6:00 pm ET
PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC
Fox Sports Carolinas - 620 AM The Buzz - WRALSportsFan app
SB Nation Rivals - Matchsticks & Gasoline

Vital Statistics

*Stats from NHL.com and War on Ice

Game Notes

• The Carolina Panthers are one win away from the Super Bowl, and they take on the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game at 6:40 pm tonight. But come to PNC Arena first, and watch a hockey game, then stick around and switch over to the Panthers for the second half. It's your only chance this season to see Johnny Hockey live and in person in Raleigh, and it's your last chance to see 18-year-old Noah Hanifin try to defend him (he turns 19 tomorrow). Plus you're bound to have cabin fever by now and need an excuse to get out of the house.
• After five road trips crossing three time zones and 11 games in 22 days, the Hurricanes wrap up January with two remaining home games, tonight against the Flames and Tuesday night against the Blackhawks. After that, they're off for a week before kicking off the February schedule. With a 5-3-3 record for the month, and losses in two of their last three games, they'll need a strong showing in these next two games to stay relevant in the standings heading into the All-Star break.
• The Canes and Flames split their two-game series last season, with each team winning on home ice, and they'll face each other again two games from now in Calgary. The Flames are playing their fourth game of a five-game road trip, and lost their first two before winning 4-2 over Columbus on Thursday.
• The Flames overachieved last season, earning a playoff berth and winning the first round against the Vancouver Canucks. Head coach Bob Hartley won the Jack Adams trophy, Jiri Hudler won the Lady Bing, defensemen Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie had career highs in points, and a young dynamo named Johnny Gaudreau stole the show with 64 points and Calder Trophy consideration. This season they started out of the gate slowly, surged into the Pacific Division race in December with seven straight wins, but have fallen back in January and are currently six points out of playoff contention with games in hand. Gaudreau leads the team in goals (20) and points (46). The Flames will be content to play tonight's game at even strength, as they own the league's worst power play and penalty kill. But watch out if this game goes to overtime, where they've won eight out of twelve tries (8-1 in overtime, 1-2 in the shootout).
• Michael Ferlund was injured in Thursday's game against the Blue Jackets and will not be in the lineup tonight, however, the Flames are expecting to see the return of Lance Bouma, who missed the last four games with a leg laceration. Karri Ramo is confirmed as the starting goaltender; in five career games against the Canes he is 3-2-0 with a 2.20 GAA and one shutout.
• After scoring two goals in their last three games, the Canes practiced yesterday with a focus on being efficient with the puck and being more opportunistic in generating offense. The team won't practice today or hold media availability until closer to game time. Riley Nash was a late scratch in Friday's game due to illness, and he is a game-time decision today along with Brett Pesce, who continues to battle a lower body injury. Neither player skated yesterday. Eddie Lack is presumed to be the starting goaltender though not officially confirmed. He holds a 3-1-0 record and 1.49 GAA in four career games against the Flames.
• Broadcast note, radio coverage for today's game will move over to 620 AM The Buzz (99.3 FM) since the Panthers are on 99.9 The Fan.

Projected Lineups

Hurricanes (1/22 vs Rangers)

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

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

Eddie Lack
Daniel Altshuller

Injuries and scratches: James Wisniewski (IR ACL), Cam Ward (IR concussion), Riley Nash (illness)

Flames (1/23 practice)

Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - David Jones
Sam Bennett - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Joe Colborne - Markus Granlund - Jiri Hudler
Brandon Bollig - Matt Stajan - Lance Bouma

Mark Giordano - TJ Brodie
Kris Russell - Dougie Hamilton
Deryk Engelland - Dennis Wideman

Karri Ramo
Jonas Hiller

Injuries and Scratches: Michael Ferland (upper body)

Storm Debris

• Today's Canes Gameday Hub includes info on how to keep up with the Panthers while at the arena [CH.com].
• Bill Peters audio from 1/23 practice [CH.com].
• Calgary Flames report from 1/23 practice at RCI [Flames.com].
• Jordan Staal is working overtime [TriangleSportsNetwork].
• Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin teamed up to support Read and Feed last week [CH.com].
• A great read that I inexplicably let slip through the cracks this week... After recognition in Philly and North Carolina, it's time for the HHOF to give Rod Brind'Amour a call [WRALSportsFan].
• Former Canes gonna Cane; watch the puck deflect off Andrej Sekera's head for an own-goal in last night's Oilers/Predators game [SportsNet].
• Finally, this is what happens when you have more than two 12-ounce drinks and decide to go sledding.

Tim Gleason cross checking the slopes like a pro! pic.twitter.com/YMwYC5YdoF

— Vineyard 36 (@36wine) January 23, 2016