GAME NIGHT
The Carolina Hurricanes conclude their two-game home stand with a 1:30 p.m. Sunday matinee against the Buffalo Sabres. The game is the centerpiece of Military Appreciation Day at the RBC Center. The Hurricanes encourage fans to arrive early to enjoy the military vehicle and equipment display, and other activities associated with Military Appreciation Day. Doors will open at 12 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than typical 1:30 p.m. games.

Newly acquired winger Justin Williams leads the Hurricanes with 28 points (7g, 21a) and a plus-10 rating this season. Williams notched his first Hurricanes goal in Friday’s game against the NY Islanders. Right wing Jeff O’Neill has 27 points (10g, 17a) while playing in all 49 of Carolina’s games. O’Neill passed Pat Verbeek (192) and took sole possession of fifth on the franchise’s all-time goal-scoring list with his power-play goal against Ottawa on Jan. 20. On Jan. 11, O’Neill passed Verbeek (403) and took sole possession of third place on the franchise’s all-time points list with an assist on Eric Staal’s goal. Forward Josef Vasicek leads the team in goals (13), power-play goals (5) and ranks third with 24 points... Defenseman Sean Hill has assists in five of the last seven games (1/11-1/23: 1g, 6a).

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
Right wing Jeff O’Neill has six goals in the last eight games (1/9-1/23: 6g, 1a). Likewise, captain Ron Francis has notched eight points (1g, 7a) in the last nine games, center Eric Staal has six points (2g, 4a) in the last eight games, defenseman Sean Hill has six assists and seven points in the last seven games, winger Pavel Brendl has four points (1g, 3a) in the last six games, winger Erik Cole has four points (2g, 2a) in the last seven games and Josef Vasicek has six points (2g, 4a) in the last six games.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 10-10-6-1
CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 6-12-3-1
CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 25-of-222 (11.3%)
CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 166-of-203 (81.8%)

CAROLINA INJURY UPDATE
Defenseman Aaron Ward, left wrist, surgery 1/21, out approx. six weeks, missed two games (1/21-1/23)
Center Rod Brind'Amour, strained groin, day-to-day

CAROLINA / SABRES NOTES
The Hurricanes and the Sabres meet for the final game of their four-game season series. Buffalo took the team’s first two meetings, both at HSBC Arena, before the Hurricanes scored a 2-1 win at the RBC Center on Dec. 29. On Nov. 21, Mika Noronen’s pitched his third career shutout for a 5-0 Sabres win. Noronen made 30 saves in the teams’ Dec. 26 match up to notch a 3-1 victory. Eric Staal (0g, 2a) leads the Hurricanes with two points in the teams’ first three games this season.

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 56-79-18-1 all-time mark against the Sabres, including a 32-34-11-0 home record and a 24-45-7-1 mark in Buffalo.

2003-04 SCORING LEADERS AND GOALTENDERS