Vancouver Canucks at Carolina Hurricanes: Game Preview, Statistics, Notes, How to Watch

Carolina Hurricanes (11-11-6) vs. Vancouver Canucks (12-15-2)
December 14, 2016 - 7:00 PM ET
PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC
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Game Notes

• The Hurricanes ride a six game winning streak in PNC Arena into tonight’s game against Vancouver. It’s the longest home win streak for the team since an eight-game streak in 2010. They will take on their fourth Pacific Division opponent in a row, after going 1-1-1 on a swing through California last week.
• The Canes will be donning their alternate black jerseys tonight. The team is 2-0-0 this season, and an impressive 59-34-9 all time, in the alternate sweaters.
• The Hurricanes have not given up a shorthanded goal in 6 straight games, encompassing 19 straight penalties. The team remains best in the league in penalty kill situations, allowing only 6 goals in 76 shorthanded situations and scoring 4 shorthanded goals. Opposition power plays are 2 for their last 49 against the Canes’ penalty kill, dating back to the start of November.
• Jordan Staal practiced yesterday for the first time since suffering a concussion on November 27th. It is possible that Staal will draw into the lineup tonight for the first time in 8 games. With that in mind, Phil Di Giuseppe was reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers yesterday to free up a roster spot for Staal’s return to the lineup.
• Elias Lindholm also practiced yesterday, and he may play tonight as well. Since he was never moved to injured reserve, the Canes did not need to make a second roster move to add Lindholm to the lineup.
• These two teams met on October 16 in Vancouver, when the Canucks won 4-3 in overtime after the Canes blew a 3-0 lead in the second period. Bo Horvat, who has five goals in four career games against Carolina, opened the scoring for the Canucks midway through the second period, and the dagger was delivered by old friend Brandon Sutter 32 seconds into overtime.
• Joakim Nordstrom, should he play tonight, will skate in his 100th game with the Hurricanes. If Lindholm plays, someone will need to be scratched, so it isn’t a guarantee Nordstrom will suit up, but if he does he will hit triple digits with the Canes after playing in 54 games with the Blackhawks before being traded to Carolina with Kris Versteeg in the summer of 2015.
• Tonight is the first of four games where the Canes will hold a toy drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and Wake counties and the Raleigh Rescue Mission. Bring a new toy to the game tonight (at any entrance) or to the VIP entrance of PNC Arena during business hours between now and next Monday and you’ll receive a buy-one-get-one-free voucher for one of four games in January.