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Hurricanes at Flames: Preview

The Canes are back in the Saddle(dome), returning from the All-Star break looking to resume their winning ways.

By Jamie Kellner
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Hurricanes at Calgary Flames
February 3, 2016 - 9:30 pm ET
Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB
Fox Sports Carolinas - 99.9 FM - WRALSportsFan app
SB Nation Rivals - Matchsticks & Gasoline

Vital Statistics


 Hurricanes Flames
Record 23-20-8 21-24-3
Points 54 45
Division Rank 6 Metro 6 Pacific
Conference Rank 10 EC 13 WC
Last 10 Games 7-2-1 3-6-1
Streak Won 2 Lost 3



Goals/Game 2.41 2.60
Goals Against/Game 2.63 3.00
ES Goals For % 46.6% 46.6%
Shots/Game 30.1 29.1
Shots Against/Game 26.5 28.8
ES Corsi For % 53.1% 47.5%
Faceoff % 53.9% 48.2%
ES PDO 98.2 99.2
Power Play % (Rank) 16.7% (25) 13.5% (30)
Penalty Kill % (Rank) 82.5% (10) 75.7% (29)
PIM/Game 06:28 07:23



Goaltender #1 Ward Ramo
Record 14-11-5 16-17-1
ES Save % .911 .917
GAA 2.42 2.62



Goaltender #2 Lack Hiller
Record 9-9-3 5-5-1
ES Save % .909 .897
GAA 2.68 3.16

*Stats from NHL.com and War on Ice


Game Notes

  • The circus is at PNC Arena this weekend, which means the Hurricanes return from the All-Star break and head out on a road trip. They'll play just three games over the next 11 days (allowing rivals with games in hand to start catching up), starting in Calgary before heading to Winnipeg and wrapping up in Montreal.
  • One of the hottest teams before the break, the Canes have gone 7-2-1 over their last 10 games, including a win just two games ago against the Calgary Flames, who they'll face again tonight. The Canes won in Raleigh on Jan. 24 in a shooting match that ended 5-2 in their favor, with Alberta native Kris Versteeg tallying two goals and the Swedes (Victor Rask, Elias Lindholm and Joakim Nordstrom) accounting for the rest including a penalty shot from Lindholm. Kari Ramo, who will start tonight for the Flames, was chased after allowing three goals, and Jonas Hiller accounted for two against. As dominating as the Canes were on the scoresheet, it was not a well-executed game, and the Canes allowed the Flames back in the game before closing them out late. They atoned with a complete and dominating 5-0 shutout win against the Blackhawks two nights later in their last game before the break.
  • Defenseman Brett Pesce has missed three of the last six games while nursing a lower body (foot) injury, and has now been placed on injured reserve and did not travel with the team out west. Ryan Murphy was recalled for the road trip. He skated with Jaccob Slavin in practice yesterday but there were no further details as to how the defensive pairings would be shuffled in Pesce's absence. Stay turned for news following the 'morning' skate which will occur around 2:00 pm ET.
  • Cam Ward returns tonight after missing four games with a concussion. He is expected to back up Eddie Lack though Lack has not been confirmed as tonight's starter. In a recent interview, head coach Bill Peters mentioned an expectation-setting meeting he held with goaltending coach David Marcoux and his two goalies prior to the game against Anaheim on Dec. 11. It must have been an effective discussion because their records since that date:

Cam Ward - 10 games played, 5-3-2 record, .929 sv%, 1.78 GAA
Eddie Lack - 13 games played, 8-3-2 record, .924 sv%, 2.21 GAA

  • Joakim Nordstrom is on a hot streak, scoring goals in each of his last three games. Andrej Nestrasil and Jordan Staal have points in three straight games, and Eric Staal, Elias Lindholm, Kris Versteeg, and Jeff Skinner have points in two straight.
  • As of this morning new is no news on the status of Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman, who was suspended indefinitely following a hit to linesman Don Henderson in a game played last Wednesday. Wideman pleaded his case in a disciplinary hearing yesterday in Toronto, and will in all likelihood miss tonight's game and perhaps more.
  • Michael Ferland is set to return to the Flames lineup after missing three games with an upper body injury. In anticipation of his return, the Flames placed Mason Raymond on waivers yesterday.
  • Johnny Gaudreau leads the Flames in goals (20), assists (27) and points (47), and is returning from an All-Star game performance (one goal and two assists) that placed him among the finalists for MVP honors.
  • The Flames have lost their last three straight games and five of their last six, and need to mount a significant charge if they want to replicate last season's improbable run to the playoffs. On their home turf, they haven't lost to the Canes since December 2002.
  • Get ready for #CanesAfterDark with a late start tonight, 9:30 pm ET.

Projected Lineups

Hurricanes (confirmed 2/3 morning skate)

Kris Versteeg - Eric Staal - Phillip Di Giuseppe
Joakim Nordstrom - Jordan Staal - Andrej Nestrasil
Jeff Skinner - Victor Rask - Elias Lindholm
Chris Terry - Jay McClement - Riley Nash

John-Michael Liles - Justin Faulk 
Noah Hanifin - Ron Hainsey
Jaccob Slavin - Ryan Murphy

Eddie Lack
Cam Ward

Injuries and scratches: James Wisniewski (IR ACL), Brett Pesce (IR foot), Nathan Gerbe (healthy), Brad Malone (healthy), Michal Jordan (healthy)


Flames (media reports 2/3)

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

Mark Giordano - TJ Brodie
Kris Russell - Dougie Hamilton
Ladislav Smid - Deryk Engelland

Karri Ramo
Jonas Hiller

Injuries and Scratches: Dennis Wideman (suspension), Brandon Bollig (healthy), Josh Jooris (healthy), Jakub Nakladal (healthy)

Storm Debris

  • Canes Gameday Hub [CH.com].
  • Are the Hurricanes strong enough to make the playoffs? Some believe they are [FoxSports].
  • John-Michael Liles could join the list of trade candidates [N&O].
  • Ron Hainsey holds a place in NHL history, but it's not one that he's all that happy about [N&O].
  • The latest on the Canes prospects in 'The Pipeline' [Canes & Coffee].
  • When the Canes return home, they'll host the 10th Anniversary Stanley Cup Celebration. Here's the latest guide to all the happenings [CH.com].
  • Handicapping the odds on Canes trades at the deadline [Section 328].
  • NHL Power Rankings: The Canes may be in hockey purgatory but good things are being said [ESPN].
  • The Flames are looking to make a post All-Star push [Flames.com].
  • A delightful read about Johnny Hockey [Players Tribune].
  • Speaking of Gaudreau, he was one of the finalists for All-Star Game MVP, but says he would have given the MVP car to John Scott anyway [Calgary Sun].
  • All eyes are on Dennis Wideman in Elliotte Friedman's latest 30 Thoughts [SportsNet].
  • Finally, a bit of extra Canes cheer. The first is courtesy of Michal Jordan, who welcomed a new little one over the weekend:

  • and Eddie Lack makes a new friend after Monday's practice in Calgary.