Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators: Lineups and Game Discussion

The Carolina Hurricanes tied the franchise record for wins and points this October. November, on the other hand, has been a different month altogether. The Canes enter tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators with a 1-4-0 record since the “Trick or Treat” storm surge back on October 29th. The second half of this back-and-back set with the Senators offers the Canes an opportunity to stop the bleeding.

As Tripp Tracy noted in last Saturday’s broadcast, the good news for the Canes is that many of the mistakes they’ve made during this four-game losing streak are easily correctable. Poor line changes, blown coverages, and malaise at the start and end of periods are mental breakdowns that must be corrected. As is the case in life, so it is in hockey - if you’re in a hole, the first step should be to stop digging. If the Canes can tighten up on the fundamentals, they may start getting some bounces that have not gone their way so far this month.

Petr Mrazek will get the start in net tonight, looking to bounce back from a rare home loss. Haydn Fleury draws into the lineup in place of Trevor van Riemsdyk. Jordan Martinook and Erik Haula remain out with injuries. Brock McGinn is nursing an undisclosed injury and is a game-time decision. If he can’t go, TVR will play and the Canes will roll seven defensemen.

And there will be a familiar face back tonight:

Here’s the Canes’ lineup:

Ryan Dzingel - Jordan Staal - Warren Foegele
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teravainen
Nino Niederreiter - Lucas Wallmark - Martin Necas
Brock McGinn - Eetu Luostarinen - Brian Gibbons

Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Joel Edmundson - Brett Pesce
Jake Gardiner - Haydn Fleury

James Reimer
Petr Mrazek

Injuries and Scratches: Erik Haula (knee), Jordan Martinook (core muscle), Trevor van Riemsdyk (healthy)

We just saw the Senators, so not too much to add here. Their lineup should be unchanged from Saturday. Anders Nilsson will get another start after his win against the Canes.

Brady Tkachuk - Chris Tierney - Anthony Duclair
Nick Paul - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Connor Brown
Vladislav Namestnikov - Colin White - Tyler Ennis
Filip Chlapik - J.C. Beaudin - Jonathan Davidsson

Thomas Chabot - Nikita Zaitsev
Erik Brannstrom - Ron Hainsey
Mark Borowiecki - Dylan Demelo

Anders Nilsson
Craig Anderson

Finally, today is Veterans Day. To all the veterans, thank you for your service and sacrifice. It can never be said often enough.