After a rare three-day break, the Carolina Hurricanes return to action this afternoon as they host the New Jersey Devils at Lenovo Center.<\/p>\n
The game offers a rare break for the Hurricanes in the midst of a grueling schedule that has them playing teams still vying for a playoff spot. Five of their last six were against teams either in or fighting for a playoff spot, and after the final horn tonight their next six will also be against playoff contenders, although four of those will be inside Lenovo.<\/p>\n
New Jersey, though, is not in a playoff position.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s quite the fall for the Devils as they started of the season so hot. After they lost at the Hurricanes\u2019 Opening Night, they reeled off eight straight to charge to the top of the division It was a big reason the start was actually broadcast on national TV as the Devils and the Canes were expected to fight each other for the Metropolitan lead.<\/p>\n
The Canes held up their end of the bargain, but New Jersey couldn\u2019t sustain the success. The injury bug took over for the Devils and over the course of the season their record saw them sink further down in the standings. Jack Hughes missed some significant time before the Olympics\u2014his tooth is fixed, by the way, Dougie Hamilton had fallen so far out of favor it was thought he would be traded at the deadline, and once again former Hurricane Brett Pesce is injured and on the shelf likely for the rest of the season, as is the other former Cane Stefan Noesen. The inconsistency has hurt goalie Jacob Markstrom who is well under .900 in save percentage.<\/p>\n
New Jersey is building a winning streak as of late though, including against Central Division powerhouse Dallas on the road on Tuesday. They followed that up with a win against Nashville, and have won five of their last six overall. They haven\u2019t been eliminated from the playoff hunt but as they are eleven points out of a slot right now. They really are just playing out the string.<\/p>\n
Carolina has won the other two meetings against the Devils since that Opening Night matchup, so the Devils will at least be motivated to avoid getting swept by the Canes. The lack of any playoff pressure for the Devils plus the extra days off for the Canes could create an interesting dynamic as the Canes stare down the rest of their schedule.<\/p>\n
With Carolina playing today and tomorrow, there won\u2019t be a morning skate today so we have to take cues from yesterday\u2019s pracitce as to what tonight will look like<\/p>\n
Yes that\u2019s right, you see Shayne Gostisbehere back out, skating, and doing so with a regular-colored jersey on. All indications are he\u2019ll suit up and play his first game for Carolina since March 6th. It\u2019s undoubtedly longer than Rod Brind\u2019Amour would have liked to sit the defenseman, but with such a huge lead in the division and the grind of this schedule in front of them, better safe than sorry.<\/p>\n
Also Brandon Bussi looks to get the nod in net tonight meaning Frederick Andersen should see action tomorrow against Montreal. We haven\u2019t seen Bussi in net since last Friday in the overtime win against Toronto. The encouraging thing in that win wasn\u2019t so much the three goals but the joy he showed in skating up to Alexander Nikishin when he nailed his overtime winner. Maybe getting that win will start a run for the goalie, as the Canes are going to need him with this run of games down the stretch.<\/p>\n
It sets up for a great game tonight. If you aren\u2019t going to be able to make it to Lenovo Center, here\u2019s how you can catch the action.<\/p>\n
TV: FanDuel Sports Network in the Carolinas. Mike Maniscalco will handle play-by-play alongside Tripp Tracy doing color. Hanna Yates and Shane Willis will provide off-ice reports.<\/p>\n