COLUMBUS, Ohio – Forward Andrei Svechnikov is expected to play for the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After scoring his 24th goal of the season on Saturday in Tampa, the winger was noticeably absent at Monday’s practice. Rod Brind’Amour told reporters yesterday that Svechnikov “didn’t feel 100%,” but this afternoon, the head coach said the 25-year-old is fine.
What remains to be seen is how the rest of the lineup will filter down. Eric Robinson filled in at Svechnikov’s spot next to Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis yesterday, with Nic Deslauriers skating beside William Carrier and Mark Jankowski.
Was Robinson just a placeholder who will be the odd man out tonight, allowing Deslauriers to make his team debut, or will the New Jersey-born winger return to his spot previously between Carrier and Jankowski, rendering Deslauriers a health extra once again?
On the blue line, the Canes will be without Shayne Gostisbehere for a fifth consecutive game. Dealing with a lower-body injury, the point-producing defenseman has been out of action since Mar. 6 in Edmonton.
Behind it all, #32 Brandon Bussi is scheduled to be in net for the 32nd time this season.
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Tonight’s Projected Lineup…
Forwards
Svechnikov – Aho – Jarvis
Hall – Stankoven – Blake
Ehlers – Staal – Martinook
Carrier – Jankowski – Robinson*
Defense
Slavin – Chatfield
Miller – Walker
Reilly – Nikishin
Starting Goaltender
Bussi
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Injuries
Shayne Gostisbehere | Lower-Body | Out “A Couple of Games” as of Mar. 10)
Pyotr Kochetkov (Hip Surgery | “Likely Out For The Year” as of Dec. 29)
Scratches
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
TBD
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PP1: Aho, Ehlers (Staal), Jarvis, and Svechnikov with Nikishin
PP2: Blake, Hall, Jankowski, and Stankoven with Miller
Jordan Staal has been taking the faceoffs with the first power play unit. If he wins it, he’ll stay on the ice. When the puck comes out of the zone, he jumps off, and Nikolaj Ehlers jumps on.
