B's-Canes Preview: Early Edition

I am going out tonight and I am heading to the Garden for the game tomorrow at 1:00, so I probably won't have time write a preview tomorrow morning before the game. Instead, I am giving you an extremely early preview of tomorrow afternoon's game. I guess I could have written one now and scheduled an automatic post for tomorrow morning, but by then most of this information will be out of date and I would just look like an idiot (more than usual, I mean). So here you go. Here is your Early Edition B's-Cane Preview.

The Bruins and Hurricanes will meet for the third time this season for a matinee matchup tomorrow at the Garden. The Bruins lead the season series 2-0 thanks to a pair of 4-2 victories. The B's are coming off a 6-4 win against Ottawa last night, while the Canes are looking to get back on track after dropping a 4-2 decision to the resurgent Florida Panthers.

Just who are these Hurricanes that you speak of?
Carolina Hurricanes 21-16-5; 47 pts (2nd in Southeast, 7th in East)

Leading Goal Scorers
Eric Staal: 18 Goals (18-14-32)
Ray Whitney: 13 Goals (13-21-34)
Tuomo Ruutu: 12 Goals (12-14-26)

Goaltending
Cam Ward: 30 GP 16-10-3; 2.46 GAA .914 Sv% 1 SO
Michael Leighton: 13 GP 5-6-2; 3.04 GAA .897 Sv%

Guys Who Like to Drop the Gloves
Wade Brookbank: 6 Fighting Majors
Tim Gleason: 3 Fighting Majors

'08-'09 Season Series
Bruins' record vs. Hurricanes this season: 2-0-0
12/20 vs. CAR 4-2 W
12/27 @ CAR 4-2 W

Injury Report

Boston
LW Marco Sturm: IR (Knee)
D Andrew Ference: IR (Broken Tibia)
C Patrice Bergeron: Out (Concussion)
LW Milan Lucic: Out (Undisclosed)
D Shane Hnidy: Day-to-Day (Eye)

Carolina
D Tim Gleason: Day-to-Day (Lower Body)
D David Tanabe: Out (Concussion)

Notes:

- Milan Lucic will be out of the lineup again tomorrow with an undisclosed injury.

- The B's have sent Vladimir Sobotka and Martin St. Pierre back to down to Providence. However, with the injury to Lucic, the B's are expected to call up a couple forwards from the Baby B's.

- The Canes have a 5 on 5 ratio of 1.00

- Carolina has struggled with special teams play this season. Their PK is ranked #26 (77.7%), while their power play is ranked #22 (15.8%).

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Ric Flair YouTube Fan Video


WOOOOOO! There is something the Canes will be hearing a lot tomorrow afternoon.