Canes Still Winless on the Road, Return Home Against Thrashers

First of all I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. With that being said the Hurricanes are still winless on the road. The Hurricanes had a valiant effort against the Ducks, but the end result is the same. The Hurricanes started fast taking a 1-0 lead on a Tom Kostopolous goal just 1:23 into the game. The Ducks would tie the game at one late in the second period. The game would remain even until the third period when Petteri Nokelainen put one past Legace to take a 2-1 lead with just over seven minutes to play. Later the Hurricanes would cheat to try to tie the game, but it would become a 3-1 lead when Selanne took a cross ice pass from Koivu and roofed the puck to make it 3-1. The Hurricanes would score with fifty seconds left to make it 3-2 on a Brandon Sutter goal. However, that is how the game would end with another regulation loss.

The Hurricanes now play at home tonight as they take on one of the leagues surprises the Atlanta Thrashers. Two positives heading into tonight, Staal seemed to be getting into his rhythm as the game went on last night and that Michael Leighton will be back in on the roster tonight as Justin Peters was sent down this morning. The Hurricanes could still be without Rutuu tonight as he is fighting a lower body injury. The Hurricanes really need this win tonight as they face a back to back situation by going to Buffalo tomorrow night.

The Atlanta Thrashers have been a big surprise this season. The Thrashers have been lead by their captain Ilya Kovalchuk. The upcoming free agent leads the team with 13 goals despite missing 3 weeks with an injury. The Thrashers are also without their starting goalie Kari Lethtonen who is out with a back injury. Ondrej Pavelec has been carrying the load for the Thrashers with a 7-5-3 record with a goals against average of 2.76. The biggest surprise for the Thrashers is Rich Peverly, picked up off waivers last season leads the team in points with 24.

If the Hurricanes are to have a shot tonight the power play has to be better. In the loss to Anaheim the Hurricanes had a chance to put the Ducks away with three power play opportunities in the second period Wednesday and failed to score. If the Hurricanes can come out the way they did against the Ducks, stay out of the penalty box, and score on the power play they have a good shot to get the victory.

News & Notes: Tonight marks the 1st of 6 meetings between Atlanta and Carolina
Hurricanes have won their last 3 home games
Eric Staal’s first home game since his injury

Injuries: CAR Tuomu Ruutu Lower Body
CAR Cam Ward Lower Body
CAR Scott Walker Upper Body
ATL Kari Lehtonen Back Surgery

Prediction CAR 3 ATL 1 F