CAROLINA HURRICANES (17-26-6-5, 45 pts.)
at
LOS ANGELES KINGS (21-24-4-4, 50 pts.)
Friday, Feb. 7, 2003, 10:30 p.m. at Staples Center

GAME NIGHT

The defending Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes continue their west coast swing tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Tonight’s game marks the first in a two-game season series that will conclude on March 15 when the inter-conference foes meet at RBC Center. The Hurricanes will remain in the Los Angeles metro area following the game in preparation for Sunday’s meeting against Anaheim.

PRACTICE TIMES

Feb. 7	Friday	Staples Center	11:30 a.m.
Feb. 8	Saturday	HealthSouth (L.A.)	2 p.m.
Feb. 10	Monday	American Airlines Center	11 a.m.
Feb. 11	Tuesday	American Airlines Center	11:30 a.m.
Feb. 12	Wednesday	RecZone	12 p.m.
Feb. 13	Thursday	RBC Center	TBA
Feb. 14	Friday	RBC Center	10:30 a.m.

ON THE AIR
Television: none
Radio: WKIX 102.3 FM (Goldsboro); WKXU 101.1 FM (Raleigh); WDTF 570-AM (Raleigh); WMFD 630-AM (Wilmington); WDLZ 98.3-FM (Murfreesboro); WSJS 600-AM (Winston-Salem); WRUP 97.9-FM (New Bern/Morehead City); WSTK 910-AM (Jacksonville); WNMX 106.1 (Charlotte); WCNC 1240-AM (Elizabeth City); WZBO 1260-AM (Edenton)
Internet: www.nhl.com

CAROLINA NOTES
Right wing Jeff O’Neill has seven goals in the last 15 games. His four-game goals streak (Jan. 3-8: 5g, 0a) was the longest this season by any Carolina player. O’Neill leads the team with 19 goals and 40 points. He ranked tied for sixth among all NHL players with six game-winning goals through games of Feb. 5. Josef Vasicek has four goals and two assists in the last six games… The Hurricanes have not lost in regulation this season when leading after two periods and hold an 11-0-1-2 record in that department. Carolina went 22-0-2-2 last season in games when it led after two periods.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 9-11-5-3
CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 8-15-1-2
CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 46-of-293 (15.7%)
CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 232-of-282(82.3%)

CAROLINA INJURY UPDATE
Left wing Jeff Daniels missed the game Feb. 5 due to illness.
Right wing Erik Cole was placed on injured reserve after suffering a broken bone in his left leg, Jan. 30.
Defenseman David Tanabe is day-to-day and has missed two games with a shoulder injury.
Center Rod Brind’Amour was placed on injured reserve Jan. 21 and has missed five games after hand surgery on Jan. 22.

CAROLINA / LOS ANGELES NOTES
The Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings meet tonight in the first of two regular-season match ups. The teams will conclude the season series on March 15 at RBC Center. Last season the teams split their two-game set with each team winning at home. Carolina downed Los Angeles 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 28, 2001, and the Kings scored a 2-1 win on Feb. 7, 2002, one year ago today. Carolina winger Sami Kapanen led all scorers in last year’s two-game set with a goal and two assists (3 points). The Hurricanes hold a 24-27-7-0 all-time mark against Los Angeles, including a 14-11-4-0 home ice record and 10-16-3-0 road record.

KINGS NOTES
The Kings are 34-for-232 (14.7%) this season…Los Angeles ranked first in the NHL last season succeeding on 72-of-350 (20.6%) of their power play chances…their 72 power play goals ranked tied for first in the NHL last year… The Kings are 207-for-254 (81.5%) this season...the Kings killed 312-of-361 (86.4%)opponent power plays last season ranking sixth in the NHL…Los Angeles ranked fifth in road penalty killing with 86.3% (164-of-190) for 2001-02.

SCORING LEADERS AND GOALTENDERS

HURRICANES
	GP	G	A	TP
92 O'Neill	54	19	21	40
17 Brind'Amour	48	14	23	37
10 Francis	54	19	17	36
26 Cole	53	14	13	27
Goalies	GP	GAA	W-L-T	SV%
1 Irbe	26	3.06	7-17-2	.885
80 Weekes	32	2.41	10-14-4	.920
KINGS
	GP	G	A	TP
33 Palffy	47	19	29	48
10 Schneider	49	11	22	33
41 Allison	26	6	22	28
44 Modry	53	9	18	27
Goalies	GP	GAA	W-L-T	SV%
39 Potvin	42	2.66	17-20-3	.894
1 Storr	17	2.68	4-8-1	.900