First off, let's get a look at the Eastern Conference standings through the eyes of Canes fans. Games updated through all action on Saturday.
The Hurricanes were off on Saturday after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night. Carolina was behind for much of the contest before a lucky bounce off the stick of John-Michael Liles sent the game into the extra frame.
Bo Horvat seems to be the new Canes killer, as the young centerman scored another two goals including his second game winner against Carolina this month. Of his eight tallies this season, four have come against the Hurricanes.
After a flight home from St. Louis after their victory on Thursday night, and no practice on Friday morning, Carolina was predictably slow out of the gate against the Canucks. Bill Peters opted to insert Michal Jordan into the lineup to spell Brett Pesce, who has been playing through a nagging lower body concern. Nathan Gerbe returned to the lineup after missing two months due to injury, playing on the fourth line with Brad Malone and Jay McClement. Peters elected to slide Riley Nash up to the Jeff Skinner/Victor Rask line instead of using Chris Terry, who was scratched.
Michal Jordan looked especially rusty after being a healthy scratch for most of the season to date. His zone protection on Vancouver's opening goal was quite loose, giving Linden Vey a sizable lane to notch his first goal of the year.
The Canes played a disciplined game, taking no penalties. The club also scored its fifth power play goal in the last five games, but failed to capitalize on a four-minute man advantage after Justin Faulk took a high stick to the face late in the first period.
Carolina dominated in most statistical categories, including shots on goal (40-22), attempted shots (73-39), and faceoffs (41-29). However, Vancouver was able to block 19 shots and Jacob Markstrom proved to be the difference for the Canucks, who were also playing their second game in two nights.
All in all, the Hurricanes did earn a point and have only suffered one regulation loss in January, going 4-1-3 for 11 points in those eight games. Carolina has five games left this month; two road tilts including a big game tonight in Pittsburgh and a matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, with three games to follow at PNC Arena against the Rangers (1/22), Flames (1/24), and Blackhawks (1/26).
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It will be Eddie Lack getting the start in net for Carolina against the Penguins this afternoon. Brett Pesce is also expected to be out for the second straight game with an LBI.
No morning skate today with the matinee 3pm starting time. In his morning press conference, Bill Peters mentioned needing to "empty the tank" against Pittsburgh, with the team getting a full off day on Monday and two practice days before their Thursday tilt in Toronto.
Expect a similar lineup to what Carolina iced against Vancouver, though the defensive pairings are likely to shift throughout the game.
Versteeg - E Staal - Lindholm Nordstrom - J Staal - Nestrasil Skinner - Rask - Nash Malone - McClement - Gerbe
Liles - Faulk Hanifin - Hainsey Jordan - Slavin
Scratches: Chris Terry (healthy), Brett Pesce (injury), James Wisniewski (LTIR)
Carl Hagelin makes his Pittsburgh debut today after being dealt from Anaheim earlier this week for David Perron and Adam Clendening. Kris Letang, who's been tremendous this season when healthy (he scored in the 3-2 Canes victory this past Tuesday), is likely out with an upper body concern. Carolina gets Marc-Andre Fleury in net again today after the Canes netted three goals on 21 shots in Tuesday's affair.
Despite the games in hand enjoyed by most Eastern teams, the Canes control their destiny today and can position themselves back into 9th place in the East (for a while anyway) with a regulation, overtime, or shootout win against the Pens.