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
Wednesday’s game marks the Hurricanes debut of winger Radim Vrbata who was acquired on Tuesday from Colorado just prior to the NHL trading deadline in exchange for Bates Battaglia. Vrbata had 11 goals and 19 assists (30 points) in 66 games this season prior to the trade. The 6’ 1”, 190-pound Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic, native will wear No. 13 on his sweater… On Monday, Hurricanes left wing Brad DeFauw became the fourth Hurricanes player this season to score a goal in his NHL debut. But, DeFauw didn’t stop there. With 2:37 remaining to play against Columbus on March 10, DeFauw notched his second goal of the game, of the season and of his NHL career. The goal would later prove to be the game-winner and made DeFauw the first player in franchise history to score two goals in his NHL debut.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 12-13-7-3
CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 9-21-2-3
CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 54-of-364 (14.8%)
CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 283-of-345 (82.0%)

CAROLINA INJURY UPDATE
Left wing Jan Hlavac, hand, day-to-day, missed five games (March 2-10)
Right wing Pavel Brendl, arthroscopic knee surgery, injured reserve, missed seven games (Feb. 26-March 10)
Left wing Jaroslav Svoboda, shoulder, injured reserve, missed 13 games (Feb. 14-March 10)
Right wing Jesse Boulerice, concussion, injured reserve, missed 13 games (Feb. 14- March 10)
Right wing Jeff Heerema, wrist, injured reserve, missed 15 games (Feb. 9-March 10)
Left wing Erik Cole, broken leg, injured reserve, missed 17 games (Feb. 5-March 10)
Center Rod Brind’Amour, hand surgery, injured reserve, missed 22 games (Jan. 22-March 10)

CAROLINA / BUFFALO NOTES
The Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres meet tonight in the third of four regular-season matchups. Kevin Weekes made 26 saves to shut out the Sabres in the teams’ first meeting on Nov. 7 at RBC Center, but Buffalo returned the favor by notching six against the Hurricanes in a 6-3 win at HSBC Arena on Jan. 3. Carolina went 1-1-1-1 (4 points) in four games against Buffalo last season and scored a win and an overtime loss at HSBC Arena in 2001-02. The Hurricanes own a 54-76-18-1 all-time record against the Sabres including a 23-43-7-1 road mark.

SABRES NOTES
Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced Tuesday that the team has acquired center Daniel Briere from the Phoenix Coyotes. Briere (5’10”, 178 lbs.) was the Coyotes second choice in the first round (24th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. In five seasons, he has appeared in 258 NHL games, recording 70 goals and 76 assists for 146 points. His best season as a pro came in 2001-02 when he recorded 32 goals, 28 assists, 60 points and 12 power play goals which were all career highs at the time. This season he has scored 17 goals and a career high 29 assists for 46 points in 68 games.

SCORING LEADERS AND GOALTENDERS