After taking a holiday break, the Carolina Hurricanes (22-11-3) are back in action as they take on the Detroit Red Wings (22-13-3) tonight at the Lenovo Center. Game time is 7 P.M. and the game will be broadcast by the FanDuel Sports Network with a special simultaneous local broadcast by WRAL.
The Canes will be hoping to put their recent failures in the rear view mirror as they have lost three games in a row, all by giving up leads in the third period. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10.
The Hurricanes hold first place in the Metropolitan Division and hold a narrow, winning percentage advantage in the Eastern Conference. The Wings will be looking to change that tonight.
The Red Wings are coming in red hot and currently sit in first place in the Atlantic Division. They have won three games in a row which include two wins over the Capitals and one over Dallas. They are 8-2-0 in their last 10.
At Carolina’s morning skate, Jaccob Slavin, K’Andre Miller, and Seth Jarvis did not take the ice.
Brandon Bussi was back in the starter’s net for the home team.
Cory Lavalette posted the line rushes as follows:
Perhaps the experiment with Stankoven playing center is finally over?
Alexander Nikishin is in the first pairing, in this economy?
Wings goalie, John Gibson, has won eight games in a row and has allowed just 17 goals during that span. I would expect to see him tonight.
Look for Detroit’s lines to be as follows:
Emmitt Finnie — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat — Andrew Copp — John Leonard
Marco Kasper — Nate Danielson — Mason Appleton
Michael Rasmussen — JT Compher — James van Riemsdyk
Simon Edvinsson — Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot — Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Albert Johansson– Jacob Bernard-Docker
This is from Kevin Allen, former USA Today writer and now Wings beat reporter.
It should be a good one tonight. See everyone in the game thread later.