The Carolina Hurricanes face the Calgary Flames tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome carrying a single game-time decision, according to head coach Rod Brind’Amour. Speaking with reporters ahead of the puck drop, Brind’Amour did not disclose which player’s status remains uncertain for the contest. Should a replacement be necessary, the team carries Nic Deslauriers and Juuso Valimaki as healthy extras on the road trip.
Injuries have forced the Hurricanes to dip into their depth early in the season. Following yesterday’s action, Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum both made their season debuts, earning praise from the head coach for their performances under pressure. Brind’Amour highlighted the value of having quality players ready to step into the lineup when called upon, noting that Nadeau slotted directly into Taylor Hall’s position and performed admirably alongside his group.
Among the team’s currently sidelined skaters, forward Seth Jarvis is progressing toward a return from offseason shoulder surgery following a June 24 procedure that carried an initial recovery timeline of four to six months. Brind’Amour indicated that Jarvis is getting closer to being cleared, noting that he must reach a specific threshold of time before medical staff can evaluate him for a return, though he will not dress against Calgary. The injury list also includes Taylor Hall, who is dealing with an upper-body injury, and Jordan Staal, who sustained a calf tear on October 13 and is expected to miss one to two months.
In goal, Brandon Bussi is projected to get the start for the Hurricanes. Pyotr Kochetkov received the nod in yesterday’s matchup against Winnipeg, while Bussi enters tonight’s game having secured victories in his previous two outings against Montreal and Chicago, stopping a combined 40 shots.
Tonight’s projected forward lines feature William Carrier centering Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov on the top unit, followed by Bradly Nadeau, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake. The third line is projected with Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Jankowski, and Jordan Martinook, while Eric Robinson, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Felix Unger Sorum round out the fourth forward group. On defense, Jaccob Slavin is paired with Jalen Chatfield, K Miller skates with Sean Walker, and Shayne Gostisbehere is paired with Mike Reilly. The first power-play unit features Aho, Blake, Ehlers, Svechnikov, and Gostisbehere, while the second unit groups Jankowski, Nadeau, Stankoven, Unger Sorum, and Miller.
The game is scheduled to get underway at 8:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the Hurricanes Hockey Network as Carolina looks to extend its winning streak.
