GAME NIGHT
The Carolina Hurricanes wrap up a three-game home stand on Friday as the Montreal Canadiens make their first North Carolina appearance this season. The teams will play again Saturday night at Bell Centre to conclude a back-to-back, home-and-home set, and kick off Carolina’s trans-Canada journey that will see it face the likes of Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver from Dec. 6 to Dec. 14.

The Hurricanes earned points in each of the first two games of their current home stand, downing Pittsburgh 4-3 on Nov. 29 and forcing overtime in an eventual 2-1 loss to Nashville on Dec. 3. Carolina has earned points in eight of its last nine games at the RBC Center (11/6-12/3: 4-1-3-1), including each of the last four (11/18-12/3: 1-0-2-1).

ON THE AIR
Television: Fox-DT
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

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

CAROLINA NOTES
Carolina is 5-3-4-1 at the RBC Center this season and has lost in regulation just once in its last nine home games (11/6-12/3: 4-1-3-1)… With his next goal scored, Ron Francis will pass Stan Mikita (541) and take sole possession of 21st on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list… With his next assist, Hurricanes defenseman Sean Hill will notch his 100th assist with the team… With his next assist, Jeff O’Neill will pass Pat Verbeek (211) and move into sole possession of fourth place on the Hurricanes all-time assists list.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 5-3-4-1
CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 2-7-3-0
CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 14-of-118 (11.9%)
CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 91-of-109 (83.5%)

CAROLINA INJURY UPDATE
Defenseman Glen Wesley – Injured Reserve - shoulder contusion, Nov. 18 vs. PHI, missed 7 games

CAROLINA / CANADIENS NOTES
The Hurricanes and the Canadiens meet for the first game of a back-to-back, home-and-home set, and the first game of their four game season series. Montreal went 2-1-1-0 against Carolina last year, winning once at home and on the road, and scoring a 2-2 tie at RBC Center on Nov. 1. The Hurricanes scored their lone 2002-03 win against Montreal at Bell Centre, 7-3 on Nov. 23. Erik Cole led all Carolina skaters against the Habs last season with five points (3g, 2a), including a hat trick in the Nov. 23 game. The Hurricanes are 46-84-19-0 against Montreal all time, including a 28-36-12-0 home mark and an 18-48-7-0 road record.

2003-04 SCORING LEADERS AND GOALTENDERS