Philadelphia Flyers (12-7-6) at Carolina Hurricanes (12-12-2)
RBC Center – 7 PM EST – Raleigh, NC
TV: CW-57, FSN Carolinas
Radio: 1210 AM WPHT, XM 208
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What to Watch For: Carolina’s third defensive pairing consists of two rookies, Tim Conboy and Casey Borer. Conboy has pllayed 16 NHL games with the ‘Canes, but he played on the wing, so he doesn’t have much experience as an NHL defenseman. The same can be said for Borer, who will be playing in his first NHL game this evening. What’s interesting about these two is that they played together as a defensive pair with Albany of the AHL this season, and also in college with St. Cloud State. They will try to use their chemistry to an advantage, but regardless of that, the Flyers can exploit this pair of unexperienced rookies.
Scouting the Enemy: It’s been a hectic week in Raleigh. Head coach Peter Laviolette was fired and the only other guy to ever coach the Hurricanes, Paul Maurice, was brought back. Ex-Captain Ron Francis was announced as an associate coach. Maurice will in his second game as coach this evening, and the Flyers will be trying to stop him from getting that first victory.
Between The Pipes: Antero Niittymaki is in goal for the Flyers tonight after Martin Biron’s bad outing against New Jersey on Thursday. Nitty made 27 saves while allowing just one goal in a 3-1 Flyers win in his last outing, two Wednesday’s ago against these same Hurricanes.
Michael Leighton, a former Flyer/Phantom, goes tonight for Carolina in place of the injured Cam Ward.
Injury Report: As mentioned earlier, Simon Gagne is expected to play this evening, as is Kimmo Timonen. Stevens will limit his ice time a bit though. According to Sam Carchidi of the Inquirer, Simon will play about 18 minutes tonight. Matt Carle is still out with back spasms. He didn’t even make the trip.
Former Flyer Justin Williams returned a month earlier than expected from knee surgery and an achillies injury on Thursday night against Pittsburgh. The ‘Canes are still pretty banged up, however, with five guys out of the lineup. They include Frantisek Kaberle (day-to-day, lower body), another former Flyer Dennis Seidenberg (IR, leg), goalie Cam Ward (DTD, groin), Scott Walker, and Tim Gleason.
Behind Enemy Lines: Canes Country
A look back in Flyers/Hurricanes History: Gene Hart and Bobby Taylor bring you Flyers hockey, live on PRISM from the Spectrum on Bobby Clarke Night, November 15, 1984. The good guys defeated the Hartford Whalers that night 6-1.
Let’s Go Flyers!
