GAME NIGHT
The Hurricanes play their second game of a Northeast-Division back-to-back set as they skate into Buffalo’s HSBC Arena. The game marks the conclusion of Carolina’s fifth back-to-back set of 2003-04 that begins Thursday night in Ottawa. The Sabres have won just once it their last five games (1-2-1-1), a 2-1 win on Monday at Ottawa.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

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); WSJS 600 AM (Winston-Salem); WNMX 106.1 FM (Charlotte)
Internet: www.nhl.com

CAROLINA NOTES
Hurricanes winger Erik Cole currently leads the team in points (14) and power-play points (8) despite missing one game (11/9) due to an elbow injury. The 25-year-old also ranks second on the team in goals (5), assists (9), penalty minutes (30) and plus/minus rating (+4) in Carolina’s first 18 games… With his next goal scored, Ron Francis will move into a tie with Stan Mikita (541) for 20th on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list. Through games of Nov. 19, Francis (540 career, 4 in 2003-04) was two goals ahead of Detroit’s Brendan Shanahan (539, 6) on that list… With his next assist, Hurricanes defenseman Sean Hill will notch his 100th assist with the team.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 4-3-3-0
CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 1-4-3-0*
CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 11-of-80 (13.8%)*
CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 63-of-76 (82.9%)*

CAROLINA INJURY UPDATE
Defenseman Glen Wesley – shoulder contusion, day-to-day
Defenseman Bob Boughner – torn meniscus (cartilage, left knee), surgery 11/17, out 2-4 weeks, missed 1 game

CAROLINA / SABRES NOTES
The Hurricanes and the Sabres meet for the first of four match ups during the 2003-04 season. The teams will play a home-and-home set in late December before concluding the season series at the RBC Center on Jan. 25.

Last season, the Sabres took two of the team’s four match ups, and earned a point in an overtime loss to Carolina on March 12. Miroslav Satan led all scorers in last season’s series with five points (3g, 2a). Rod Brind’Amour (1g, 2a), Ron Francis (1g, 2a), Bruno St. Jacques (0g, 3a) and Bates Battaglia (1g, 2a) led the Hurricanes with three points each in the four 2002-03 games. Carolina posts a 55-77-18-1 all-time mark against the Sabres, including a 31-34-11-0 home record and a 24-43-7-1 mark in Buffalo.

2002-03 SCORING LEADERS AND GOALTENDERS