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Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals Gameday: Preseason Preview, Rosters, How to Watch

The Canes kick off their first game of the 2016-17 preseason tonight in the nation's capital. Nine prospects who played in Traverse City are expected to be in tonight's lineup.

By Jamie Kellner
Jamie Kellner

Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals
September 26, 2016 – 7:00 PM
Verizon Center – Washington, DC
CSN-DC | WRALSportsFan web and app
SB Nation Rivals – Japers Rink

Game Notes

  • The 2016-17 preseason is finally here, and the Carolina Hurricanes are jumping right in with back-to-back games; tonight in Washington against the Capitals then tomorrow in Tampa Bay against the Lightning. Here’s the full seven-game schedule:

Mon, Sept 26 @ Washington Capitals, 7:00 pm

Tue, Sept 27 @ Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 pm

Fri, Sept 30 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 pm

Sun, Oct 2 @ Minnesota Wild, 6:00 pm

Tue, Oct 4 @ Buffalo Sabres (Marquette, MI), 7:00 pm

Weds, Oct 5 vs. Buffalo Sabres (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), 7:00 pm

Friday, Oct 7 vs. Washington Capitals, 7:30 pm


  • The reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do more, and nine players from the Traverse City championship roster are expected to be in the lineup tonight, including team captain Roland McKeown and 2016 draft picks Julien Gauthier and Janne Kuokkanen.
  • Offseason acquisitions Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell are also expected to make their debuts tonight for the Canes.
  • After winning the President’s Trophy last season, the Capitals didn’t make many offseason moves, but they did shore up depth at center by signing free agent Lars Eller, who is scheduled to debut with his new team tonight.
  • The Capitals have a number of players still participating in the World Cup, including both goaltenders. Vitek Vanecek, who split time last season between the AHL Hershey Bears and ECHL, will get the start tonight in net. Backing him up is former Charlotte Checker Drew MacIntyre, who was signed to a professional tryout in early September.
  • Make room for trucks. Former Hurricane Brad Malone is expected to be in the lineup for the Caps.
  • Comcast SportsNet (DC area) will broadcast tonight’s game live. The WRALSportsFan website and mobile app will air the radio broadcast but it will not be heard over the radio at 99.9 The Fan. This will be the case for all Canes preseason games.

Projected Rosters (per Capitals PR)

Hurricanes

  • Forwards – Bryan Bickell, Clark Bishop, Patrick Brown, Julien Gauthier, Janne Kuokkanen, Jay McClement, Joakim Nordstrom, Andrew Poturalski, Nicolas Roy, Jordan Staal, Viktor Stalberg, Sergey Tolchinsky, Valentin Zykov
  • Defensemen – Jake Chelios, Justin Faulk, Keegan Lowe, Roland McKeown, Ryan Murphy, Dennis Robertson, Jaccob Slavin
  • Goaltenders – Eddie Lack, Alex Nedeljkovic

Capitals

  • Forwards – Riley Barber, Jay Beagle, Chris Bourque, Paul Carey, Lars Eller, Stanislav Galiev, Brad Malone, Zach Sill, Chandler Stephenson, Jakub Vrana, Nathan Walker, Tom Wilson, Daniel Winnik
  • Defensemen – Madison Bowey, Taylor Chorney, Christian Djoos, Lucas Johansen, Tyler Lewington, Aaron Ness, Brooks Orpik
  • Goaltenders – Drew MacIntyre, Vitek Vanecek