Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders preview

Posted Friday, January 5, 2007

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Raleigh, NC - The Carolina Hurricanes wrap up a two-game home stand at the RBC Center on Saturday against the New York Islanders (7 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network). Saturday's game will mark the final regular-season meeting between the Hurricanes and the Islanders this season. Carolina dropped the first game of the home stand on Thursday, a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Morning skates: On Saturday, the Hurricanes will hold an optional morning skate at RecZone at 10:30 a.m. Hurricanes players and coaches will be available at 5 p.m. for the teams' typical pre-game locker room media access. The Islanders will not hold a morning skate on Saturday.

Hurricanes: 21-18-4 (46 pts.), 2nd Southeast Division

Islanders: 19-18-3 (41 pts.), 3rd Atlantic Division

MILESTONE WATCH

Center Kevyn Adams will play his 300th game with the Hurricanes with his next game played

Winger Scott Walker is one assist shy of 200 for his NHL career

Defenseman David Tanabe is one point shy of 100 NHL points

Captain Rod Brind'Amour is two assists shy of 200 Hurricanes assists

Left wing Ray Whitney is four assists shy of 400 for his NHL career and two points shy of 100 Hurricanes points

CURRENT STREAKS

none

Television: FSN South

Radio: Hurricanes Radio Network - WWMY 102.9 FM (Raleigh - flagship), Pirate Radio - WGHB 1250 AM and WDLX 930 AM (Greenville, NC... check listings for games), News Talk Radio WFNC 640 AM (Fayetteville, NC... Saturdays and Sundays)

Carolina Notes

* The Hurricanes have lost each of their last three games (12/31-1/4) in regulation, marking the second time this season that has occurred (10/6-10/11). This season, the Hurricanes have suffered two winless streaks longer than the current winless streak, going 0-3-1 Oct. 4-11, and 0-4-1 Dec. 5-15.

* Carolina's last two losses have come by way of shutout, 3-0 at Pittsburgh on Jan. 2 and 2-0 against Phoenix on Jan. 4. The Hurricanes last scored a goal at the 8:14 mark of the third period in their 5-2 loss to Philadelphia on Dec. 31, a drought of 131:46.

* Captain Rod Brind'Amour leads all Carolina players in career scoring against the Islanders. Brind'Amour has posted 83 points (37g, 46a) in 78 career regular-season games against the Isladners, including a team-leading seven points (2g, 5a) this season.

* The Hurricanes' power play is 13-for-64 with left wing Cory Stillman in the lineup, and 26-for-187 (13.9%) without him.

* This season, Carolina's penalty kill has gone 177-for-204 (86.8%) in 39 games with Rod Brind'Amour in the lineup and went 17-for-27 (63.0%) in the four games Brind'Amour missed in December.
 

INJURY REPORT

Left wing Cory Stillman, upper body, day-to-day, missed 1 game

Defenseman Bret Hedican, illness/finger surgery, out 3-4 weeks, missed 2 games

Defenseman Tim Gleason, broken foot, injured reserve, out one month, missed 6 games

Center Kevyn Adams, wrist/staph infection, missed 9 games

Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle, shoulder, out, missed 43 games

 

*All times are local... Times and locations subject to change

AGAINST THE NY ISLANDERS

Friday's game marks the fourth and final meeting this season between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders. In 2005-06, the Hurricanes posted a 3-1-0 record in their four-game set against the Islanders, splitting games on Long Island. Justin Williams led all Hurricanes skaters with six points (1g, 5a) in the season series while Shawn Bates had three points (1g, 2a) to pace the Islanders. In 95 all-time meetings, the Hurricanes post a 45-39-10-2 record against the Islanders, with a 24-18-5-1 home record and a 21-21-5-1 record at Nassau Coliseum.