Carolina Hurricanes vs. Dallas Stars: Preview and Game Discussion

The Carolina Hurricanes won’t have long to stew over last night’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Stars. Twenty-four hours after the Canes kicked off an eight-game homestand by dropping a game to Dallas for the first time this season, they get right back to it looking to close the gap to the top of the division.

Game Notes

• Even with the loss last night, and wins by the Panthers and Lightning dropping the Hurricanes to three points off the division lead, they have a golden opportunity today with the Lightning falling big to the Red Wings this afternoon. No matter what happens between the Panthers and Blue Jackets today, the Hurricanes can close to within a point of the Lightning with a win, and will still have games in hand over both teams in front of them.
• Yes, that second table is correct: there is a chance that Petr Mrazek will return to the crease tonight for the first time in more than two months. Rod Brind’Amour played coy this morning, but said that it was “a possibility,” which in Rod-speak means that it’s likely sooner rather than later.
• Tonight is the last of the four meetings this season between the Hurricanes and Stars in Raleigh. Their final two contests will be in Dallas on April 26 and 27.
• Another assist for Vincent Trocheck last night gave him a three-game point streak since he returned from injury last Thursday. He has points in his last nine games, dating back to the six games before his injury absence.
• With Trocheck back and Mrazek soon to return, the Canes are down to only two injured players, Jake Gardiner and Teuvo Teravainen.
• This is the Hurricanes’ final Sunday game of the season. They’re a perfect 4-0 so far this year on the first day of the week.
• The Stars might need to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen tonight, after Jason Dickinson left last night’s game with an undisclosed injury.

Projected Lineups

Hurricanes

Brock McGinn - Sebastian Aho - Martin Necas
Andrei Svechnikov - Vincent Trocheck - Jesper Fast
Nino Niederreiter - Jordan Staal - Warren Foegele
Cedric Paquette - Steven Lorentz - Jordan Martinook

Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Haydn Fleury - Jake Bean

Petr Mrazek
James Reimer

Injuries and Scratches: Teuvo Teravainen (IR concussion), Jake Gardiner (upper body)

Taxi squad: Morgan Geekie, Joey Keane, Max McCormick

Stars

Jason Robertson - Radek Faksa - Joe Pavelski
Jamie Benn - Rhett Gardner - Denis Gurianov
Andrew Cogliano - Justin Dowling - Blake Comeau
Tanner Kero - Ty Dellandrea

Esa Lindell - John Klingberg
Jamie Oleksiak - Miro Heiskanen
Andrej Sekera - Mark Pysyk
Taylor Fedun

Jake Oettinger
Landon Bow

Injuries and Scratches: Anton Khudobin (COVID protocol), Joel Kiviranta (lower body), Tyler Seguin (non-roster hip), Stephen Johns (LTIR post-concussion), Ben Bishop (IR knee), Alexander Radulov (LTIR lower body), Joel Hanley (lower body), Jason Dickinson (undisclosed)

Taxi squad: Joel L’Esperance, Colton Point, Taylor Fedun

Tonight’s Officials
Referees: Wes McCauley #4, Frederic L’Ecuyer #17
Linesmen: Shandor Alphonso #52, Tony Sericolo #84