GAME NIGHT
The Carolina Hurricanes return to the RBC Center on Thursday to face Washington in their final home game before the All-Star break. Following Thursday’s game, the Hurricanes will embark on a three-game road swing, venturing west to face Detroit, Colorado and Anaheim.

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

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

CAROLINA NOTES
Recently acquired winger Justin Williams leads the Hurricanes with 28 points (7g, 21a) this season. Williams notched his first Hurricanes goal in last Friday’s game against the NY Islanders. Right wing Jeff O’Neill has 27 points (10g, 17a) while playing in all 51 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 (14), power-play goals (5) and ranks third with 25 points... Defenseman Sean Hill has assists in five of the last nine games (1/11-1/25: 1g, 6a).

CAROLINA AT HOME: 10-11-6-1
CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 7-12-3-1
CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 25-of-230 (10.9%)
CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 176-of-213 (82.6%)

CAROLINA INJURY UPDATE
Defenseman Aaron Ward, left wrist, surgery 1/21, out approx. six weeks, missed four games (1/21-1/27)
Center Rod Brind'Amour, strained groin, missed two games (1/25-1/27)

CAROLINA / CAPITALS NOTES
The Hurricanes and the Capitals meet for the fourth of six 2003-04 meetings. The Capitals have taken the teams’ first three meetings this season by a combined score of 13-3. Washington and Carolina will conclude their six-game season series with two games in February following the All-Star break.

The Capitals won the 2002-03 five-game set between the clubs, 4-1-0-0. Ron Francis (3g, 0a), Josef Vasicek (2g, 1a), Jeff O’Neill (1g, 2a) and Jan Hlavac (1g, 2a) led the Hurricanes in scoring against Washington last season with three points each in the five-game set. The Hurricanes are 28-51-13-1 all-time against the Capitals, including a 15-22-9-1 home mark and a 13-29-4-0 record in Washington.

2003-04 SCORING LEADERS AND GOALTENDERS