Game 35: Carolina Hurricanes (16-16-2) vs. Washington Capitals (16-17-2)

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

The Canes are at home tonight as they take on the Caps. I think it's safe to say that this is a must win game for the Canes as they can close the game with a Winnipeg loss against the Islanders (either way, if the Canes win they will gain ground on New York or Winnipeg).

The Canes will look a little different tonight as they currently have eight healthy defensemen on the roster. Muller could possibly roll with seven defensemen and use newly acquired Marc Andre Bergeron (MAB) just on the power play as a point man.

The line-ups will be as followed...

Jiri Tlusty - Eric Staal - Alexander Semin

Jeff Skinner - Jordan Staal - Patrick Dwyer

Drayson Bowman - Riley Nash - Jussi Jokinen

Chad LaRose - Tim Brent - Double Shift

Gleason - Corvo

Pitkanen - Bergeron

Harrison - Bellemore

Sanguinetti

Dan Ellis

Justin Peters

Inactive: Jamie McBain (healthy), Kevin Westgarth (healthy)

Injured: Tuomo Ruutu (groin), Justin Faulk (knee), Cam Ward (knee)

As far as the Caps go, they recently reassigned Dmitry Orlov and Tomas Kundratek the the AHL, so they will obviously not play tonight. The Caps also activated John Erskine from IR, so he is expected to back in the line-up tonight. Caps goaltender Michael Neuvirth is said to be progressing through his injury well and could play if needed tonight, however Braden Holtby is expected to get the start. The Caps have a bunch of moves acquiring Dan Byers from Edmonton and Joel Rechlicz from Phoenix and they also signed Nate Schmidt and Jack Hillen. A few of those players mentioned might be in the line-up for the Caps tonight. Regarding injuries, the only significant player that Washington will be without tonight is Eric Fehr.

GO CANES!!!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

McBain is not on the ice, hopefully this is foreshadowing a move that will be made tomorrow.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Skinner back with J. Staal and Dwyer tonight.

[Jakob]

You gotta be shitting me, Peters 2 games against the Caps have been shutouts and ellis just lost to them.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Peters has played three straight games, I think Ellis will good tonight, he's really fresh.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

San Jose in the building scouting.

[Goosfraba21]

Tlusty!!!!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

TLUSTY!!!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I like MAB so far, I had heard he was pretty much useless on 5-5 but he looks like he's a pretty good player.

[Stumpy]

Tlusty!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

TLUSTY PP!!! I LOVE MAB!!!

[Goosfraba21]

Tlusty again!!! A pp goal!!!!

[Stumpy]

Is Tlusty gonna be the recipient of a headwear shower tonight?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I hope so, and I'll tell you right now. MAB is already worth Hall and a 7th.