Carolina Hurricanes Forecast: Lines, Players and Peters Quotes
Here’s your Carolina Hurricanes Forecast pregame update with projected lines for the game, any player moves and post-practice quotes from Coach Peters.
(All quotes and lineup information is courtesy of the Carolina Hurricanes.)
The Canes are back in Raleigh after a five game roadtrip to make way for March Madness at the PNC Arena. The team hosts the Buffalo Sabres for the first and only time this season. The Hurricanes will be searching for their first win against the Sabres this season after losing to them in late November and earlier this month.
The Carolina Hurricanes are still mathematically in the hunt for the playoffs, but last week just about put their playoff dreams to bed. The team only earned two points from a possible six while other teams, like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, continued their winning ways.
The Hurricanes played overtime hockey for the sixth time in seven games on Saturday in Minnesota, dropping a 3-2 decision in the shootout.
According to reports from Buffalo, the Sabres young rookie superstar Jack Eichel has been under the weather recently, missed another practice on Monday, and is questionable for tonight’s game.
Related Story: Derek Ryan gets another shot in the NHL (Video)
Player & Practice notes:
In order to help fill out their forward lines, the Hurricanes recalled Derek Ryan from Charlotte on Monday evening. Ryan scored a goal in his NHL debut on March 1 in New Jersey and will play in the middle in his second stint with the Canes.
“We’re going to move some people around and figure it out,” Peters said of his line combinations.
Peters Predicted lines from Practice:
Forwards
“They’ve given us a hard time,” head coach Bill Peters said of Buffalo after practice on Monday. “They’re deep down the middle, and they’ve got some guys up front who can hurt you.”
Nordstrom-Staal-Lindholm
Skinner-Rask-Di Giuseppe
Terry-Ryan-Nash
Gerbe-McClement-Malone
Defense
Slavin-Hainsey
Hanifin-Pesce
Jordan-Murphy
Goalies
Ward – starting
Lack
Newly arrived from Charlotte for another shot at NHL ice-time, Derek Ryan will slot in between Chris Terry and Riley Nash as the third line center.
Defenseman Ryan Murphy, who missed Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury, is good to go for today’s game and will slot in with Michal Jordan on the third D-pairing.
The really great news coming from Coach Peters over the last couple days is that James Wisniewski, injured in his first shift with the Canes this season, could be back on the ice during a practice or two before the end of the season. They will, however, be very careful not to aggravate anything…they REALLY want him healthy for next season.
Peters Pregame Perspective:
Following practice this morning Coach Peters answered some media questions. He expects Derek Ryan’s second stint with the Canes, and time tonight on the third line, should give him some opportunity to show off the skills that has him leading the Checkers in Charlotte.
“I expect that line to be dangerous offensively. He’s going to play in the middle with Terry and Nasher. He’ll be on the half-wall on the power play,” said Peters. “I expect him to generate some offense. At the end of the night when I look at the stats, he should have a few shots and be involved in some of our grade-A scoring chances.”
Next: What should the Hurricanes do for a goalie next season?
Hurricane Forecast:
Just 10 games remain in their 2015-2016 campaign, six of which will be played at the PNC Arena. The playoff chances are moving from the slim to nil category as the season winds down, and the coaching staff is hoping to get a good look at what pieces they might have to work with next season. All we know is that these kids are going to fight until the very last second of their season.