Carolina Hurricanes weekly preview (Oct. 12-18)
The Carolina Hurricanes went into the newly 2014-15 season feeling down, so let’s take a look ahead to the first full week of Carolina hockey.
A Look Back
The ‘Canes started off the year with back-to-back games against the New York Islanders, one in Raleigh on Friday and one in Uniondale on Saturday. Carolina dropped both games, but did put up points in both affairs.
Nathan Gerbe, Chris Terry and Eric Stall all got goals, with the latter coming on a power play late in the third period in Friday’s 5-3 loss. Saturday’s game was much closer, but a Jiri Tlusty’s hat trick wasn’t enough in the 4-3 defeat.
Overall, the offense is performing a bit better than expected, especially on the power play (4-9 so far). The defense, however, has questions coming into the new year and has been nearly downright horrid on the PK (Isles went 4-8 in the two games).
Injuries & Callups
The most notable callup of the week occured late Sunday afternoon, as Zach Boychuk was brought up from the Charlotte Checkers. In addition to that announcement, GM Ron Francis also stated that Jeff Skinner would be placed on the IR after suffering another concussion in the preseason finale against Washington.
Here’s the full presser:
"RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has recalled forward Zach Boychuk from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition, the Hurricanes placed forward Jeff Skinner on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 5.Boychuk, 25, has scored one goal in two games for the Checkers this season. The Airdrie, Alb., native appeared in 11 games with the Hurricanes in 2013-14, totaling four points (1g, 3a) and earning a plus-1 rating. Boychuk (5’10”, 185 lbs.) won the AHL’s Willie Marshall Award as that league’s top goal-scorer with 36 goals last season.The Hurricanes’ first pick, 14th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Boychuk has tallied 24 points (9g, 15a) in 96 career NHL games with Carolina, Pittsburgh and Nashville."
Eric Staal and Patrick Dwyer also reportedly left Long Island injured, but their status is currently not known for this week.
Games This Week
. 109. Final. . 12
Date & Time: Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. EST
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
TV: NBC Sports Network / NBC Live Extra
The ‘Canes will kick off the week in primetime, playing host to the Buffalo Sabres and the fine folks at NBC. Buffalo hasn’t won a game yet either (as of press time), and both could possibly be hungry for that first win.
The teams split their preseason home-and-home, plus this Gerbe’s former team. So expect some fireworks in primetime.
. 95. . 109. Final
Date & Time: Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. EST
Location: New York, New York
TV: Fox Sports Carolinas, MSG
Carolina will then hit the road for their first game of the season inside Madison Square Garden against the reigning Eastern Conference champs.
The Rangers haven’t looked all that great either, giving up 5 goals to the Columbus Blue Jackets last week. That said, the Rangers weren’t good in the first half of last season either, and look where they ended up.