The Detroit Red Wings stand at 14-12-and-3 as they face the 19-7-and-1 Carolina Hurricanes this evening (7 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports South/97.1 FM).
The Hurricanes made a set of emergency recalls before today’s morning skate…
Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has recalled forwards Jack Drury, Stefan Noesen and Andrew Poturalski from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) on an emergency basis.
And CarolinaHurricanes.com’s Walt Ruff framed tonight’s game thusly:
TRACKING THE STORYLINES:
Stay Positive, Test Negative: It’s been a wild week already for the Carolina Hurricanes, who currently have six players and one staff member in COVID-19 Protocol. The team’s game Tuesday against Minnesota was postponed as a result of four of the aforementioned players testing positive, but Wednesday the team took a step forward by having everybody else test negative. They are not, however, out of the woods yet. All players and team staff will have to test twice today before the puck drops – once before morning skate and another before the game. If all comes back clear, it’s game on at PNC Arena.
Double Dose of Defense: In positive news, Tony DeAngelo and Brett Pesce are set to make their return to the team’s lineup this evening for the first time in over two weeks. The two were added to the team’s COVID-19 Protocol on Monday, November 29 and then could not join the team in Canada due to their positive tests, thus leaving them out of action. DeAngelo was one of the NHL’s league leaders in scoring by defensemen before his pause and Pesce’s two-way abilities from the blue line and certainly both welcomed back by the club.
Freddie The Red Wing Slayer: In ten career games against the Detroit Red Wings, Canes netminder Frederik Andersen is 9-0-1. Two of the wins being shutouts, the record also includes a fantastic .926 save percentage (SV%). While it hasn’t been announced yet whether he or Antti Raanta will start tonight, the numbers are certainly in Andersen’s favor if his number is indeed called.
Per TSN, the following Hurricanes are already in COVID protocols, thus forcing the postponement of Tuesday’s scheduled game in Minnesota…
Ian Cole, Steven Lorentz, Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov entered the protocol Tuesday, with the Hurricanes stating that the four will remain Minnesota for the time being. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis are currently in Vancouver after entering the protocol there on Monday.
And Carolina will go with 10 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies tonight due to salary cap issues…
But they received some additions at their morning skate, per the Raleigh News & Observer’s Chip Alexander…
Good seeing Brett Pesce and Tony DeAngelo back on the ice with the team. Been a while.— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) December 16, 2021
Andersen in the starter’s crease.— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) December 16, 2021
The rebuilt lines: Trocheck with Nino, Necas; Kotkaniemi with Teravainen, Fast; Stepan with Poturalksi, Drury (with Noesen).— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) December 16, 2021
On D, Slavin with Bear, Skjei-Pesce; Smith-DeAngelo.— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) December 16, 2021
And Ruff:
The group is making their way onto the ice at PNC Arena now for morning skate.
Drury, Noesen and Poturalski among the first three out there. pic.twitter.com/vkBOS5cUGr— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) December 16, 2021
The 16 available skaters and both goaltenders that are projected to be available this evening are all accounted for.— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) December 16, 2021
Carolina sits at 19-7-and-1 despite having lost 2-1 to the Vancouver Canucks last Saturday. That game snapped a 4-game winning streak for Carolina, and the Canes are 5-4-and-1 over their past 10 games.
Update: The Canes are going to want to go for an inspirational win vs. the Wings while shorthanded this evening…and Rod Brind’amour is the coach to deliver that kind of victory…
The head coach talks it over with his team. pic.twitter.com/TTjSmz8vl2— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) December 16, 2021
I guess we’ve been warned:
Frederik Andersen is the first goalie off for the #Canes.
Tonight would be his 20th start of the season, bringing a record of 14-5-0 in. He’s won his three most recent starts, allowing just four total goals against Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg.— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) December 16, 2021
The @Canes have recalled Jack Drury, Stefan Noesen and Andrew Poturalski from Chicago on an emergency basis for tonight’s game against Detroit. Assuming no more positive tests, they’ll play tonight with 16 skaters (2 less than max) and add two more for Saturday.— Adam Gold (@AGoldFan) December 16, 2021
Carolina will be without Aho, Jarvis, Staal, Svechnikov, Lorentz and Cole through the Christmas break at least. Long stretch to be without those guys. Detroit is pretty good and Alex Nedeljkovic will have a little extra tonight, I’m sure.— Adam Gold (@AGoldFan) December 16, 2021
Update #2: Uh, yeah:
Tony DeAngelo was asked if the league needs to change anything with the protocols/with the Canes playing two skaters short/etc.:
“I’m gonna sit this one out, I’m probably the last person they want to hear from”— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) December 16, 2021
Asked DeAngelo if he believes the NHL needs to change things up so situations like this don’t occur. Jokingly said he would “sit that one out” and he’s “probably the last guy” the league wants to hear from on that.— Cory Lavalette (@corylav) December 16, 2021
Jack Drury the last one off the ice.— Cory Lavalette (@corylav) December 16, 2021
Jack Drury said that @Chicago_Wolves Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky gave him the good news regarding the recall after their team practice yesterday.
He mentions that his family will be able to be here, as well as a teammate from Harvard.— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) December 16, 2021
Jack Drury said he didn’t have any stories about his father’s (Ted) NHL debut. It was Oct. 5, 1993, a 2-1 win for the Flames, who beat the Islanders. He had one shot on goal and got his first NHL point, an assist, in his second game.— Cory Lavalette (@corylav) December 16, 2021
