Game 13: Carolina Hurricanes (7-4-1) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (8-5-0) (Michal Jordan called up)

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Jordan Called Up

First things first, Michal Jordan (yes, you read that correctly) has been called up from the Charlotte Checkers and will join the Hurricanes tonight in Raleigh as they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jordan is a defense-man that is on call up duty due to injuries we will discuss in a moment. Michal was an AHL Western Conference All-Star for the Checkers and recorded 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points in 48 games. If Michal plays, this will be his first NHL action. Jordan will be wearing number 47 because Welsh owns 23.

Game Day

The Carolina Hurricanes, currently first in their division; are facing a tough opponent tonight in their first game at PNC Arena in 12 days against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This tough task in front of the Canes just got a little tougher with the news that Pitkanen will be out and Gleason is questionable.

Muller has said that the defensive depth chart will be as followed tonight...

Justin Faulk - Jay Harrison

Jamie McBain - Joe Corvo

Bobby Sanguinetti - Michal Jordan

To further complicate matters, Dan Ellis will be the net minder in front of this make shift defense tonight, seeing his first action since the 4 goal debacle in Philadelphia.

The Canes have also made a switch to their depth chart at the forward position, the Canes will lineup as followed...

Jiri Tlusty - Eric Staal - Alexander Semin

Jeff Skinner - Jordan Staal - Patrick Dwyer

Drayson Bowman - Jussi Jokinen - Tim Wallace

Andreas Nodl - Tim Brent - Kevin Westgarth

However, the Canes have already beaten the Leafs this year and it was a much better Leafs team than they will be facing tonight.

The Leafs are on a four game winning streak and haven't lost since they played Carolina a while back, but this will be the first game that they will be without both starting goaltender James Reimer and first line winger Matt Frattin in the same game.

This will be a struggle for both teams and this game will ultimately come down to who can dig deep the most without their go to guys.

News and Notes

• Eric Staal is on a ten game point streak, he is trying to break his own record and Carolina Hurricanes record of points in twelve consecutive games.
  
• Eric Staal was dead last in+/- rating last year, this year he is first.
  
• Eric Staal, Alexander Semin, Jiri Tlusty, and Joni Pitkanen are all in the top 15 in +/- rating.
  
• Eric Staal still leads the NHL in game winning goals with four.
  
• Joe Corvo is wearing the A in the absence of Tim Gleason
  

Injury Report

Chad LaRose: (Carolina) Healthy Scratch

Joni Pitkanen (Carolina) Out

Tuomo Ruutu (Carolina) Out

Tim Gleason (Carolina) Out

James Reimer (Toronto) Out

Matt Frattin (Toronto) Out

Joffrey Lupul (Toronto) Out

Mike Brown (Toronto) Out

Carl Gunnarsson (Toronto) Out

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-1, 17 points)

For the first time this year, the Canes have one three games in a row and they are in the drivers seat. They are currently first in south eastern division and third in the eastern conference (only one point out of second). Dan Ellis and the defense played great (especially without Pitkanen and Gleason) and the offense was fantastic as usual.

Three Stars

1. Joe Corvo (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points)

2. Jeff Skinner (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points)

3. Jordan Staal (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point)

Goals/Goalies

Goal 1: Joe Corvo (2) (Assist: Eric Staal)

Goal 2: Jussi Jokinen (2) (PP) (Assists: Jeff Skinner, Joe Corvo)

Goal 3: Jordan Staal (2) (Assists: Jeff Skinner, Jamie McBain)

Dan Ellis (23 shots, 22 saves, .957 save %)

Stat Leaders

Eric Staal (8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points)

Jeff Skinner (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points)

Jordan Staal (2 goals, 10 assists, 12 points)

Alexander Semin (3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points)

Jiri Tlusty (5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points)

Top 10 Stat Rankings

Dan Ellis (7) is 1st in goals against

Eric Staal (12) is 1st in +/- rating

Eric Staal (4) is 1st in game winning goals

Jeff Skinner (57) is 3rd in shots

Alexander Semin (11) is 3rd in +/- rating

Dan Ellis (.943) is 3rd in save percentage

Eric Staal (8) is 6th in goals

Joni Pitkanen (31.4) is 6th in average shifts per game

Eric Staal (17) is 7th in points

Jiri Tlusty (10) is 7th in +/- rating

Dan Ellis (1.74) is 7th in goals against average

Cam Ward (297) is 10th in shots against

Jeff Skinner (7) is 10th in goals

Divisional Standings

1. Carolina Hurricanes, 17 points

2. Tampa Bay Lightning, 13 points

3. Winnipeg Jets, 11 points

4. Washington Capitals, 11 points

5. Florida Panthers, 10 points

Conference Standings

1. New Jersey Devils, 19 points

2. Boston Bruins, 18 points

3. Carolina Hurricanes, 17 points

4. Pittsburgh Penguins, 18 points

5. Toronto Maple Leafs, 16 points

6. Ottawa Senators, 16 points

7. Montreal Canadians, 15 points

8. New York Rangers, 15 points

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Game Time... still no one here.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Good fight by Westgarth.

[Goosfraba21]

Nice game day thread. Go Canes!!!

[boney]

your gameday threads rule. pie for you!

so much icing

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Haha I try,

Yeah Toronto is just content with icing the puck, not sure what's up with that?

Did any of you guys get to see the fight? Westgarth actually held his ground lol.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I have to give it to Forsland, I would just pronounce his name as Michael Jordan lol.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Michal Jordan looks comfortable tonight, I'm sure it helps that him and Sanguinetti played on the same line together in Charlotte.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Carolina definitely controlled the first period.

Scoreless after 20...

[KillerKat]

Corvo with a goal!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

SCORVO!!!! Yabba Dabba Doo

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Eric Staal with the assist, 11 games and counting!!!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Fricking penalty kill.