Scouting the Hurricanes

[UPDATE: Jonathan Bernier gets the start tonight. Andrei Loktionov and Alec Martinez are in warmups, while Slava Voynov and Kevin Westgarth are not.]

This is the only meeting of the season between the Kings and the Carolina Hurricanes. The teams have played each other only five times since the lockout. Each team has won twice in regulation and the Kings also have an overtime victory. The Hurricanes are coming off one of their most impressive games of the season, a 3-0 road victory over Boston on Thursday, in which Cam Ward made 47 saves. The Hurricanes have been unable to sustain momentum of late, as they have a 6-4-2 record since the start of January. The good news for the Hurricanes — and also the bad news for the goal-starved Kings — is that Carolina has allowed two or fewer goals in nine of its last 10 games. Eric Staal leads the Hurricanes with 38 points and Tuomo Ruutu has a team-high 16 goals. For the latest on the Hurricanes, check out the coverage from The News & Observer, followed by tonight’s possible lineups for the Kings and the Hurricanes…

The News & Observer’s Hurricanes coverage

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KINGS LINEUP
Dustin Brown-Anze Kopitar-Justin Williams
Kyle Clifford-Mike Richards-Dustin Penner
Brad Richardson-Jarret Stoll-Trevor Lewis
Andrei Loktionov-Colin Fraser-Trent Hunter

Rob Scuderi-Drew Doughty
Willie Mitchell-Slava Voynov
Jack Johnson-Matt Greene

Jonathan Bernier
Jonathan Quick

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HURRICANES LINEUP
Jiri Tlusty-Eric Staal-Tuomo Ruutu
Jussi Jokinen-Jeff Skinner-Drayson Bowman
Pat Dwyer-Brandon Sutter-Adreas Nodl
Anthony Stewart-Tim Brent-Riley Nash

Justin Faulk-Jay Harrison
Tim Gleason-Bryan Allen
Jamie McBain-Jaroslav Spacek

Cam Ward
Justin Peters

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TONIGHT’S OFFICIALS
Referees: Stephane Auger and Brad Meier
Linesmen: Ryan Galloway and Tim Novak.