Carolina Hurricanes vs. Anaheim Ducks: Game Preview and Discussion

The Hurricanes take on the Anaheim Ducks tonight in Raleigh as they try to stop the bleeding of a two game losing streak and a 5-5-0 mark in their last 10 games - all without the services of a top-pairing defenseman. No pressure, guys!

Game Notes

• The Canes and Ducks are meeting for the second and final matchup this season. The Canes lost the October matchup in Anaheim by a score of 4-2. Haydn Fleury picked up his first career NHL goal, and Petr Mrazek was pulled after giving up four goals.
• Sebastian Aho has been historically hot against the Ducks, picking up six points (2g, 4a) in seven career games against Anaheim.
• Tonight’s game wraps up the ninth of 16 back-to-back sets this season. Entering tonight, the Canes are 6-3-0 in the first game and 5-3-0 in the second game of back-to-backs.
• ICYMI, Dougie Hamilton’s injury was announced as a broken fibula earlier today. We may hear an update on the prognosis later today, after Hamilton is evaluated by the Canes’ team doctors. Jaccob Slavin will replace Hamilton as the Hurricanes’ representative at the All-Star game.
• Jake Gardiner tallied an assist in Columbus and has now posted five points in his last seven games (1g, 4a), after recording just eight points in his first 40 games. Needless to say, the Canes need him to step up in Hamilton’s absence.

Lines and Rosters

Hurricanes

Dougie Hamilton’s injury will have him out of the lineup for an extended period of time, and for the time being, we can expect for Haydn Fleury and Trevor van Riemsdyk to slot in regularly. Every defenseman’s ice time will be promoted, and we can expect to see Jake Gardiner in a much bigger role moving forward. We don’t know exactly how Brind’Amour will arrange the blue line, but someone will be playing their off-side. With the back-to-back situation, James Reimer will be getting the net tonight.

Andrei Svechnikov - Jordan Staal - Teuvo Teravainen
Sebastian Aho - Erik Haula - Warren Foegele
Ryan Dzingel - Lucas Wallmark - Martin Necas
Nino Niederreiter - Jordan Martinook - Brock McGinn

Jaccob Slavin - Brett Pesce
Joel Edmundson - Jake Gardiner
Haydn Fleury- Trevor van Riemsdyk

James Reimer
Petr Mrazek

Injuries and Scratches: Justin Williams (healthy), Dougie Hamilton (broken fibula)

Ducks

Rickard Rakell - Ryan Getzlaf - Daniel Sprong
Max Jones - Sam Steel - Ondrej Kase
Chase De Leo - Adam Henrique - Jakob Silfverberg
Nicolas Deslauriers - Derek Grant - Carter Rowney

Hampus Lindholm - Josh Manson
Cam Fowler - Erik Gudbranson
Jacob Larsson - Michael Del Zotto

Ryan Miller
John Gibson