GAME NIGHT

PRACTICE TIMES

ON THE AIR
Television: Fox Sports Net
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
On March 1, Hurricanes captain Ron Francis celebrated his 40th birthday as Carolina visited Toronto. The 22-year NHL veteran ranks second all-time and first among active players in assists, third all-time and second among active players in games played and fifth all-time and second among active players in total points. With his 534th career goal against Boston on March 4, he passed Frank Mahovlich for sole possession of 21st on the all-time goals scored list. That same goal was Francis’ 20th this season, making him just the second player in league history to notch 20 or more 20-goal seasons (Gordie Howe – 22). On Feb. 26 in Phoenix, Francis played his 1,100th game for the Carolina franchise.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 10-13-7-3
CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 8-21-2-3
CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 51-of-346 (14.7%)
CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 274-of-335 (81.8%)

CAROLINA INJURY UPDATE
Defenseman Niclas Wallin, illness, day-to-day, missed one game (March 4)
Left wing Jan Hlavac, hand, day-to-day, missed two games (March 2-4)
Right wing Pavel Brendl, arthroscopic knee surgery, injured reserve, missed four games (Feb. 26-March 4)
Left wing Jaroslav Svoboda, shoulder, injured reserve, missed 10 games (Feb. 14-March 4)
Right wing Jesse Boulerice, concussion, injured reserve, missed 10 games (Feb. 14- March 4)
Right wing Jeff Heerema, wrist, injured reserve, missed 12 games (Feb. 9-March 4)
Left wing Erik Cole, broken leg, injured reserve, missed 14 games (Feb. 5-March 4)
Center Rod Brind’Amour, hand surgery, injured reserve, missed 19 games (Jan. 22-March 4)

CAROLINA / PITTSBURGH NOTES
The Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins meet tonight for the third of four games this season and first of two at Mellon Arena. The Hurricanes overcame two one-goal deficits in the teams’ first match up to down Pittsburgh 3-2 at RBC Center on Nov. 9 but Pittsburgh avenged that loss by downing Carolina 2-0 on Jan. 15. The Hurricanes won last year’s season series with Pittsburgh 2-0-2-0, earning a pair of ties at home and defeating the Penguins twice at Mellon Arena. The two teams played to a 2-2 tie on Nov. 6 and a 3-3 tie on Feb. 5 in Raleigh. The Hurricanes defeated the Penguins 7-0 on Dec. 16 and 3-1 on March 7 in Pittsburgh. Jeff O’Neill was the leading scorer in last year’s season series with six points (3g, 3a) in four games. Ron Francis tallied four goals against his former team last season. The Hurricanes are 36-42-10-0 all-time against Pittsburgh, with a 20-21-5-0 record at home and a 16-21-5-0 record on the road.

PENGUINS NOTES
The Penguins were back in action on Feb. 4, in their first game following the All-Star break. The Penguins have 15 games remaining this season, eight home games and seven road games. Last season, the Penguins were 6-18-3-2 following the All-Star break. So far this season, the Penguins are 4-11-0-0 following the All-Star break.

SCORING LEADERS AND GOALTENDERS