Canes Country - Game 2 - Lightning 4, Hurricanes 1: Complete CoverageNews and views about the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHLhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48305/canes-fave.png2013-01-23T19:00:50-05:00http://www.canescountry.com/rss/stream/36674452013-01-23T19:00:50-05:002013-01-23T19:00:50-05:00Photos from Hurricanes Home Opener vs. Lightning
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<p>Attached is my flickr photo album from last night's home opener. This includes photos from warmups as well as in-game. </p>
<p>I tried to get a few photos of the new guys - Alex Semin, Jordan Staal, Kevin Westgarth - also a few shots on the ice of the Staal brothers on the power play together, and I also had a decent view and couple of shots of Skinner's goal. </p>
<p>Sadly there was not too much to capture last night in terms of celebrations. Perhaps tomorrow ;)</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2059095/2013-01-22_623_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="2013-01-22_623_crop_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2059095/2013-01-22_623_crop_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1358985362260"></p>
<p><a style="color: #c8181d !important; text-decoration: none !important; background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbk-ltd/sets/72157632587283193/" target="_blank">Album - Canes vs. Lightning - 01.22.13</a></p>
https://www.canescountry.com/2013/1/23/3909086/photos-carolina-hurricanes-tampa-bay-lightning-home-openerJamie Kellner2013-01-23T15:56:29-05:002013-01-23T15:56:29-05:00Game Analysis: Lightning At Hurricanes
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<img alt="Jeff Skinner scored Carolina's lone goal in a 4-1 home loss to Tampa Bay Tuesday." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z1c47PAo8_-XrbZDbd9yygOmmq4=/0x18:900x618/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7011221/012213.skinner.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Skinner scored Carolina's lone goal in a 4-1 home loss to Tampa Bay Tuesday. | Jamie Kellner</figcaption>
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<p>The Carolina Hurricanes returned to PNC Arena — to a standing room-only crowd — for their first home game in more than nine months, but they could not deliver a win in falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1. Here's the good, the bad and the ugly from Tuesday's loss.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Carolina Hurricanes</a> fell to 0-2 on the young season, losing to Tampa Bay in their home opener. Here are some thoughts from the 4-1 defeat.</p>
<p><b>Three Observations</b></p>
<p>1. While it only converted once, Carolina’s power play had the best puck movement that has been seen from a Hurricanes squad in, well, years. Everyone salivated over <span>Alexander Semin</span>’s lethal shot when the Canes signed him, but his cross-ice passes on the power play were an added dynamic that the team has lacked. The issue now becomes whether or not stacking the first unit so full of talent will make the second unit an afterthought.</p>
<p>2. For the most part, Carolina’s best players were their best performers. <span>Jeff Skinner</span> scored for the first time on the season, and both Staals and Semin had their moments and chances to score. But the team’s complementary players struggled, particularly <span>Jussi Jokinen</span> (no shots, two minor penalties, minus-two and a team-worst 7 of 19 on faceoffs) and <span>Joni Pitkanen</span> (see below).</p>
<p>3. Don’t panic. That’s an important sentiment right now up and down the board: from players to coaches to management to media and especially to fans. As Jason Kay, The Hockey News’ editor in chief, tweeted yesterday, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">Devils</a> started out the last 48-game season at 0-3-1 and wound up winning the Stanley Cup. I have already received plenty of tweets, emails and cries in the night about what’s needed to fix the Hurricanes. The truth is it’s not about fixing. It’s about finding a way to get in a groove and doing it quickly. Outside of a few teams, no one has really looked all that good in the early goings of the 2012-13 campaign. Yes, Carolina needs to be more physical. Yes, Carolina needs to convert at even strength. Yes, <span>Cam Ward</span> has to make more stops. Yes, both the forward lines and defense pairings need to come together and jell. But just like there was an overreaction to Carolina’s woeful penalty killing after the season-opening loss to Florida — an issue that seemed mostly resolved in Game 2 against a team with a lot more firepower — any panicking over one player or facet of the game in Tuesday’s loss should be put to rest.</p>
<p><b>Number To Know</b></p>
<p>38 — Combined total of Carolina shots that were blocked (23) or missed the net (15) vs. Tampa Bay. The Hurricanes still outshot the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Lightning</a> 36-26, but quantity does not equal quality, and Carolina spent most of the night throwing shots at the net without a plan.</p>
<p><b>Plus</b></p>
<p><span>Justin Faulk</span> — He is, at the moment, Carolina’s most consistent player. There hasn’t been much sizzle out of No. 27, but Faulk’s steady play while eating minutes on the back end has been even better than expected. I also wouldn’t chalk it up to the "played in the AHL during the lockout" theory. Faulk is just really, really good.</p>
<p><b>Minus</b></p>
<p>Joni Pitkanen — Right now, he’s a man without a partner. He was on the ice for both of Tampa Bay’s first period goals — both times with <span>Bobby Sanguinetti</span> — and didn’t have nearly enough good moments to outweigh the bad. His slap pass to <span>Patrick Dwyer</span> was a high point in an otherwise brutal Carolina effort on opening night in Florida, but there was little about Pitkanen’s game to be excited about Tuesday. He was part of Carolina’s impressive first power play unit, but either Faulk or <span>Joe Corvo</span> could have probably been as effective. The best solution at the moment is pairing Pitkanen with familiar partner <span>Jamie McBain</span> — thus scratching Sanguinetti — and also reuniting Faulk with <span>Jay Harrison</span> and Corvo with <span>Tim Gleason</span>. Pitkanen could also fit alongside Faulk like he did in the opener.</p>
https://www.canescountry.com/2013/1/23/3908450/game-analysis-lighting-at-hurricanesCory Lavalette2013-01-22T22:35:08-05:002013-01-22T22:35:08-05:00Game 2 Recap: Lightning 4, Canes 1
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<figcaption>Grant Halverson</figcaption>
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<p>Another sluggish start doomed the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, as the Tampa Bay Lightning paid their first visit of the season to PNC Arena on the back half of a back-to-back and left town with a 4-1 win in the Canes' home opener.</p> <p>A friend mentioned to me before Tuesday night's game that the anticipation in advance of the <a href="https://www.canescountry.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hurricanes</a>' season opener was a high as he's ever seen it. Unfortunately for the sellout crowd, the action didn't live up to the hype, as the Canes dropped their fourth straight season-opening game at PNC Arena, a 4-1 loss to the <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>.</p>
<p>As with Saturday's game in Florida, the Canes were doomed by a slow start and struggled to get their feet underneath them in the first twenty minutes. The Lightning got on the board first at 5:18 when <span>Tom Pyatt</span> batted a <span>Vincent Lecavalier</span> centering pass out of midair and past a helpless <span>Cam Ward</span>. Five minutes later, rookie <span>Cory Conacher</span> scored his second in the Lightning's first three games, a rebound from the crease from a <span>Martin St. Louis</span> redirection.</p>
<p>The Canes came out in the second period with more offensive jump, and it paid off at 3:35 in the form of <span>Jeff Skinner's</span> first of the season, a broken play that was also the Canes' first power play goal of the young season. The Lightning, who looked rather lethargic to begin the second period, seemingly got their second wind about midway through and kept the Canes off the board.</p>
<p>The game was salted away early in the third period when defenseman <span>Keith Aulie</span>, not exactly known for his goal-scoring prowess, managed to slip a weak wrister by Ward, a shot he should have stopped to make it 3-1 at 1:35. <span>Ryan Malone</span>, who had earned a boarding penalty on a dangerous-looking play earlier in the game, converted another rebound that Ward couldn't corral on a power play halfway through the period.</p>
<p>The Lightning locked down the Canes the rest of the way with <span>Mathieu Garon</span> standing tall, including a point-blank toe save on <span>Jordan Staal</span> with about five minutes to go and recording 35 saves on the night.</p>
<p>Kirk Muller, though, said that he thought the Canes looked better tonight than on Friday against Florida, although he would like to see them become tougher to play against. "But we're 0-2, and in a shortened season you look at it that way. But a lot of things are falling into place," he told the media. "Just like the last game, we'll dwell on the good stuff tomorrow and push that stuff."</p>
<p>Muller seemed to hint that <span>Bobby Sanguinetti</span> wouldn't be lasting long as <span>Joni Pitkanen's</span> defensive partner. "We need a guy who can play the minutes with [Pitkanen]. I guess we need to find which guy can do that. We felt that [Sanguinetti] was playing with Charlotte and was used to the minutes, so we took a chance to see if that would be a matchup and leave Gleason and Faulk together."</p>
<p>The loss dropped the Canes to a 3-8-2 record (with two ties) in home openers dating to their move to North Carolina in 1997. Officially, it's 4-7-2 since the 2010 season began with a "home" win in Helsinki versus Minnesota, but the team lost its first game at PNC Arena against Washington that year. The Canes return to the ice tomorrow afternoon for a noon practice, then face the <a href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Buffalo Sabres</a> on Thursday at PNC.</p>
<p>Click for postgame audio from <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2053673/estaal0122.mp3">Eric Staal</a>, <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2053683/skinner0122.mp3">Jeff Skinner</a> and <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2053669/muller0122.mp3">Kirk Muller</a>. Postgame video will be posted soon on the Canes Country front page in the Videos section.</p>
<p><b>Game Notes:</b></p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The Canes' loss drops them to their first 0-2 start since 2009, when they were outscored 9-2 in consecutive games against the Flyers and Bruins - an identical stat to the start of this season.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The Canes have yet to beat the Lightning in three opportunities where the Lightning have been the opponent at the home opener: losses this year and last year, and a tie in 1998.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Strangely, the Canes have yet to be outshot in a period this year, and have outshot the opposition in four of the six periods.</span></li>
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https://www.canescountry.com/2013/1/22/3905634/game-2-recapBrian LeBlanc2013-01-22T18:30:06-05:002013-01-22T18:30:06-05:00Lightning at Canes: Open Game Thread
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<p>We're live from press row as the Carolina Hurricanes open their 2012-2013 home schedule with a visit from the Tampa Bay Lightning.</p> <p></p>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget events clearfix"><div class="next_game"> <h3>Next Game</h3> <div class="pane-body"> <p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> <br> <span class="blog_link">@ <a href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </span></p> <p class="game-info"><span>Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013, 7:00 PM EST</span><br> PNC Arena</p> <div class="coverage"> <div class="entry"> <h5><a href="http://www.canescountry.com/2013/1/22/3903322/tampa-bay-lightning-at-carolina-hurricanes-game-2-three-questions">Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes, Game 2: Three Questions</a></h5> <p class="byline"><span class="author">posted by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brian%20LeBlanc">Brian LeBlanc</a></span> <span class="time">about 1 hour ago</span></p> <p class="byline">0 comments | 0 recs</p> </div> <div class="entry"> <h5><a href="http://www.canescountry.com/2013/1/22/3898530/carolina-hurricanes-tampa-bay-lightning-game-preview-home-opener-2013-nhl">Game Preview: Hurricanes vs. Lightning - 2013 Home Opener</a></h5> <p class="byline"><span class="author">posted by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jamie%20Kellner">Jamie Kellner</a></span> <span class="time">about 4 hours ago</span></p> <p class="byline">25 comments | 0 recs</p> </div> </div> <p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p> </div> </div></div>
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<p><strong>Scoring:</strong><br>1st Period:</p>
<ul> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Tampa Bay, Pyatt 1 (Lecavalier, Carle) 5:18</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Tampa Bay, Conacher 2 (Lecavalier, Purcell) 11:36</span></li> </ul>
<p>2nd Period:</p>
<div> <ul><li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, Skinner 1 (J. Staal, Semin) (pp) 3:35</span></li></ul> <div>3rd Period:</div> <div><ul> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Aulie 1 (Mikkelson) 1:35</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Malone 1 (St. Louis, Salo) (pp) 9:57</span></li> </ul></div> </div>
<p><strong>Penalties:</strong><br>1st Period:</p>
<ul> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Crombeen (boarding) 13:02</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, J. Staal (tripping) 17:09</span></li> </ul>
<p>2nd Period:</p>
<div> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Conacher (boarding) 1:29</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Malone (boarding) 3:15</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, Bowman (hooking) 9:14</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Carle (tripping) 11:10</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, Jokinen (interference) 16:28</span></li> </ul> <div>3rd Period:</div> <div><ul> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, Brent (tripping) 1:56</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Tyrell (holding the stick) 1:56</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, LaRose (interference) 4:13</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, Jokinen (hooking) 9:36</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Lecavalier (delay of game) 12:28</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Tampa Bay, Hall (elbowing) 13:20</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, E. Staal (roughing) 13:20</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carolina, E. Staal (slashing) 19:40</span></li> </ul></div> </div>
https://www.canescountry.com/2013/1/22/3903808/tampa-bay-lightning-at-carolina-hurricanes-game-2-open-game-threadBrian LeBlanc2013-01-22T11:00:07-05:002013-01-22T11:00:07-05:00Lightning at Canes: Three Questions
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<figcaption>Grant Halverson</figcaption>
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<p>Prior to each game, we ask Three Questions to get a scouting report on the Canes' opponent. Today's lowdown comes from Cassie McClellan, one of the managing editors for SBN's Raw Charge blog.</p> <p>Leading up to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Carolina Hurricanes</a>' home opener, it's time to take a look at who will be in the visitor's locker room tonight. For this installment of Three Questions, please give a warm welcome to Cassie McClellan, who has been writing about the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> for longer than I can remember and is currently one of the managing editors of SBN's <a href="http://www.rawcharge.com/">Raw Charge</a> blog. Cassie will give us insight on what the Canes can expect from Guy Boucher's charges tonight.</p>
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<li> <i>How confident are the Lightning that they have their goalie of the future in <span>Anders Lindback</span>? What is the split in starts between Lindback and <span>Mathieu Garon</span> expected to be?<br><br></i>The Lightning are pretty confident in Anders Lindback as their number one goalie. Or, at least, he's being given the first shot at being the number one. Mathieu Garon was given that opportunity last season, but he didn't quite have the knack to be able to steal games for the team, which is why Lindback was brought in. I would expect Lindback to get the majority of the starts, at least at first. Right now, the number one spot is really his to lose.<br><br>
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<li> <i>Assuming another big year from <span>Steven Stamkos</span> (say, 25 goals and/or 50 points in the shortened season), what else needs to happen, if anything, for the Lightning to make a push to claim a playoff spot?<br><br></i>Steven Stamkos will definitely be a big part in most Lightning wins, but also look out for rookie <span>Cory Conacher</span> to contribute quite a bit as well. Frankly, the Lightning have a lot of offensive threats, and they play a high risk/high reward style of play. Scoring won't usually be much of a problem for them. Outside of scoring, however, the Lightning are going to need to be more consistent with overall team defense. That has been a problem for them for a while now, and while that has gotten better, it's still a work in progress.<br><br>
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<li> <i>Is there a succession plan in place for the defense given that the Lightning have likely seen the last of <span>Mattias Ohlund</span> and <span>Sami Salo</span> isn't getting any younger? What kind of help will <span>Victor Hedman</span> have this year, or will it wind up as a "Hedman and everyone else" situation?<br><br></i>While Victor Hedman is certainly a key player on the blue line for the Lightning, <span>Eric Brewer</span> and <span>Matt Carle</span> bring some experience and depth to the position. Sami Salo was brought in this season to help provide some leadership at the position, and additional experience as well. Mattias Ohlund has all but retired due to knee issues, at this point, so anything he can contribute will be off-ice only. The Lightning actually have some great defensive depth in their AHL affiliate Syracuse, so even if injuries happen this season, the Lightning will be well covered.</li>
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https://www.canescountry.com/2013/1/22/3903322/tampa-bay-lightning-at-carolina-hurricanes-game-2-three-questionsBrian LeBlanc2013-01-22T08:00:07-05:002013-01-22T08:00:07-05:00Game Preview: Hurricanes vs. Lightning - 01/22/13
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<figcaption>Jamie Kellner</figcaption>
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<p>"Settle down, it'll all be clear / Don't pay no mind to the demons, they fill you with fear / The trouble, it might drag you down / If you get lost, you can always be found / Just know you’re not alone, 'Cause I’m going to make this place your home."
<br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRkntoHkIE" target="new">Phillip Phillips - “Home”</a></p> <p>It's been a long wait, but Caniacs finally get a chance to welcome their hockey team back to home ice as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Carolina Hurricanes</a> take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> tonight at PNC Arena.</p>
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<p><b>Carolina Hurricanes (0-1-0) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (1-1-0)</b><br>January 22, 2012 - 7:00 pm EST<br>PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC<br>TV: Fox Sports South - Radio: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.espntriangle.com/">99.9 The Fan</a><br>SB Nation Lightning Blog: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rawcharge.com/">Raw Charge</a> (twitter <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/RawCharge">@RawCharge</a>)<br>Tailgate forecast: High 36/ Low 20</p>
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<p><b>Broadcast Note: </b> This game will not be broadcast on the regular Fox Sports Carolinas stations in the local viewing area due to a conflict with Wolfpack basketball. Sports South will carry the game; Sports South is a standard channel on Dish Network (452) and DirectTV (647SD/647-1HD), and TWC will move the broadcast over to their "special events" channels (520SD/1520HD in the Triangle).</p>
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<p><b>Traffic Advisory:</b> PNC Arena has issued a traffic advisory due to heavier than normal arena traffic that will be arriving near rush hour. For details including possible ramp closures in the Wade Avenue/Edwards Mill Road, check here: <a target="_blank" href="http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=74817">Traffic Alert</a></p>
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<p><b>Opening Night Festivities:</b> PNC Arena gates open at 4 pm, doors open at 6 pm. Between the two, besides tailgating in the cold, there's a party at the newly minted South Plaza (formerly the Front Lawn) featuring bands, games, and beverages.</p>
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<p>Once inside, noted Hurricanes alumni <span>Cory Stillman</span> and <span>Kevin Weekes</span> will be signing autographs on the concourse, and there is plenty of opening night swag, including:</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>House flags for every fan in attendance</li>
<li>Prize giveaways at the whistles</li>
<li>Hat trick of food for $1- Hot dogs, popcorn, sodas</li>
<li>50% discounts in the Eye team store</li>
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<p>Visit the Hurricanes <a href="http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=85858" target="_blank">Opening Week</a> page for more details.</p>
<p><br><b>About the Matchup</b></p>
<p>With the adjusted 48-game schedule, the Canes and Bolts will play each other five times this season, Carolina holding the home ice advantage with three games in Raleigh. The teams also played each other in last season's Hurricanes home opener, with the Lightning posting a 5-1 victory, although the Canes went on to win the six-game series with a slight 3-2-1 edge.</p>
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<p><b>Hurricanes Notes</b></p>
<p>Not a lot went right for the Hurricanes in the season opener on Saturday, as they were defeated handily by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/">Florida Panthers</a> by a 5-1 score. <span>Patrick Dwyer</span> scored the team's only goal, <span>Cam Ward</span> was pulled after letting in four goals in the first period, and the special teams wasted six power-play chances while giving up three goals short-handed.</p>
<p>Today's practice saw much line shuffling on both offense and defense, some due to <span>Zac Dalpe's</span> absence (sent home sick, undetermined if he can play today), partly to get a different look at the Charlotte players, and partly out of need to get something clicking on special teams, which was a primary focus. In his <a target="_blank" href="http://downloads.hurricanes.nhl.com/audio1213/muller012113.mp3">post-practice media interview</a>, coach Kirk Muller explained that the changes were not made in panic, but more to implement some tweaks to address chemistry.</p>
<p>Following are the lines as they skated on Monday (asterisks mean position changed from Saturday's game). If Dalpe is able to play, expect him to slot on the second line with <span>Jordan Staal</span> and shift the other right-wingers down a line.</p>
<p><span>Drayson Bowman</span>* - <span>Eric Staal</span> - <span>Alexander Semin</span><br><span>Jiri Tlusty</span>* - Jordan Staal - <span>Chad LaRose</span>*<br><span>Jeff Skinner</span>* - <span>Jussi Jokinen</span> - Patrick Dwyer*<br><span>Zach Boychuk</span> - <span>Tim Brent</span>/<span>Jeremy Welsh</span> - <span>Kevin Westgarth</span>/Zac Dalpe*</p>
<p><span>Tim Gleason</span> - <span>Joe Corvo</span><br><span>Joni Pitkanen</span> - <span>Justin Faulk</span><br><span>Jay Harrison</span> - <span>Bobby Sanguinetti</span><br><span>Jamie McBain</span></p>
<p>Cam Ward<br><span>Dan Ellis</span></p>
<p>Cam Ward (19-13-3 career against the Lightning) will get the start in net.</p>
<p><span>Tuomo Ruutu</span> remains on injured non-roster status with a hip injury.</p>
<p><br><b>Lightning Notes</b></p>
<p>The Hurricanes are catching the Lightning on the tail end of a back-to-back and three-in-four series. Tampa Bay is 1-1-0 with a home win Saturday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> followed by a 4-3 loss (which wasn't that close) in a matinee yesterday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> that featured a couple of rounds of <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/why-ny-islanders-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-opening-001802576--nhl.html" target="_blank">fisticuffs</a> before a second had ticked off the clock. Yesterday's game was captain <span>Vincent Lecavalier's</span> 1000th career NHL game, and he was treated to an ovation by the Islanders fans and will receive recognition later this week when the team returns to Tampa.</p>
<p>Ageless spark plug <span>Martin St. Louis</span> shows no signs of slowing down, already with five points in just two games. St. Louis, who has 76 career points in 68 games against Carolina, will be a force to reckon with as always, along with defending Richard trophy winner <span>Steven Stamkos</span>. Forward Cory Conacher scored a goal in his NHL debut on Saturday night; he and Stamkos both come into tonight's game with a goal and three assists to their credit.</p>
<p>New in net this year for the Lightning, goaltender <span>Anders Lindback</span> has started both games so far and has been lauded for his effort even with a 3.50 GAA. It is uncertain whether he will get his third start in four nights or whether the honors will go to <span>Mathieu Garon</span>, who is 3-3-0 with one shutout to his credit in six games against the Hurricanes.</p>
<p><span>Mattias Ohlund</span> (knee) and <span>Matt Taormina</span> (upper body) remain on injured reserve for the Lightning.</p>
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<p><b>News Clips</b></p>
<p>A must read interview with Eric Staal, from the Hurricanes Tracking the Storm blog - In which the captain comments on recharging last season, the acquisition of Alexander Semin, and his eagerness to lead the charge right out of the gate: <a target="_blank" href="http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=651318&navid=DL%7CCAR%7Chome">Staal Ready to Lead Canes Back to Playoffs</a></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">More from Tracking the Storm on yesterday's new look in practice (includes CanesVision video interviews with Jeff Skinner and Jay Harrison): <a style="color: #c8181d !important; text-decoration: none !important; background-color: transparent;" target="_blank" href="http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=651646">Canes Refocus for Home Opener</a></p>
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<div>From the N&O, also from yesterday's practice: <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/canes-have-different-look-for-home-opener">Canes Now - Canes have different look for home opener</a>
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<p>And from WRAL: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wralsportsfan.com/canes-prep-for-home-opener-with-early-loss-in-the-past/12006490/">Canes prep for home opener with early loss in the past</a></p>
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<p>From Lightning blog Raw Charge, a recap of the Southeast Division: <a href="http://www.rawcharge.com/2013/1/20/3896628/southeast-division-weekend-round-up-one-game-in" target="_blank">Southeast Division Week 1 Round-up: One Game in</a></p>
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<p>From NHL.com, there are some new rules and enforcements this season, do you know what they are? <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=651167" target="_blank">Hockey Operations Update: Standards of Enforcement and New Rules</a></p>
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<p>Finally... NHL fans said loudly they didn't want a gratuitous "Thank You Fans" painted on the ice after the lockout. So what if the players wear their hearts on their sleeves? Puck Daddy: <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/blue-jackets-wear-thank-fans-jerseys-soothe-nhl-020156557--nhl.html" target="_blank">Blue Jackets wear 'Thank You Fans' jerseys to soothe NHL lockout anger (includes photos)</a></p>
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<p>Brian will have more analysis on our opponent later in the day, and we'll start the game thread at 6:30 pm. Welcome back home, Caniacs. See you at the rink (feels good to say that).</p>
https://www.canescountry.com/2013/1/22/3898530/carolina-hurricanes-tampa-bay-lightning-game-preview-home-opener-2013-nhlJamie Kellner