Canes coach Paul Maurice said forward Scott Walker would be held out of tonight's game against the Rangers.
Walker missed the Tampa Bay game Saturday after playing against Washington and Calgary last week. He returned last week after missing 15 games because of post-concussion symptoms, and Maurice said Walker experienced some discomfort during the Calgary game on Friday.
"He's fine," Maurice said after the morning skate. "But I think I'm more likely right now to leave the lineup the way it is."
Center Brandon Sutter has been recalled from Albany (AHL) after a conditioning stint but will not play tonight, Maurice said.
The Canes have four games this week against winning teams, against teams in playoff position or in the playoff chase. The Rangers have 76 points (tied with the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins), one point ahead of eighth-place Carolina in the Eastern Conference.
Later in the week come games at Chicago (fourth in the Western Conference) and Dallas (eighth), then at Washington, the Southeast Division leader.
"Grinding teams, skating teams," Maurice said. "There are going to be some physical (games).
"This is the first of the stretch now where it's almost as close to playoff hockey as you're going to get. The teams you're playing have something to play for. They're fighting just like you are."
The Rangers are 3-1-1 since firing coach Tom Renney and hiring John Tortorella, and have a three-game winning streak after their 4-3 win Sunday over the Boston Bruins in New York.
"I'm a fan of John's," Maurice said. "I've gotten to know him over the years from the Southeast (Division) and we've kind of kept in touch.
"I think Tom Renney did an outstanding job of taking that team from where it was, because they were in real trouble. He instituted a really good, solid defensive foundation (and) the second-best penalty kill in the league.
"So they did some good things and now they've added a coach who has opened the game up a little bit more. I think that's a good way to do it, a good process to go through."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
in net
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 18:03 — jejohn8we beat san jose starting goalie with our backup goalie
i'm not say'in anything... but you know i m' just sayin
If it ...
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 13:28 — Hockeydogis not broken, don't fix it.
Walker & Goaltending
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 13:05 — GoShelfIt would have been nice to have Walker in the lineup, he matches up well against Avery and it's apparent that Avery looks a little uncomfortable playing against Walker. Also, the past three games we've played against backup goaltenders, so tonight will be a real test for our forwards.
Goalies
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 14:33 — JRs_FaultGrowing tired of the 'backup goalie' reverse-alibi...
Canes FW's would have fared well against any goalies in the league the last 3 games... none of them played really bad games.
Do you think Theodore would have stopped the rushes in Washington??
McElhenney made a couple of highlight saves vs. perhaps one soft goal, (Flames D was way off their usual game).
TB replaced McKenna with Ramo (their goalie of the future, granted) and Ramo was beaten worse. Again, no D help at all... No goalie that has worn a Bolts sweater this year would have stopped the onslaught Saturday.
When you're seeing 3 efforts like that in a row, you have to question whether it's merely bad nights for opposing D/G's or if it's time to give the Canes effort some credit, right?
Tonight, it looks like we'll get Lundqvist, despite the back-to-back for the Rangers. Let's hope they keep up the pressure!
Credit?
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 16:03 — GoShelfYes, the Canes played well and yes they deserve credit for their efforts. I also think that at times, teams mail in efforts playing in front of their backup goaltender - Carolina did almost every time John Grahame played last year. I think the Calgary game and the Washington game are very different if their starting goalies are in. I hope I'm wrong and it doesn't matter who's in net.
What it comes down to...
Tue, 03/10/2009 - 14:51 — hockeyhick...is taking care of your own business. If we are facing goalies we should beat on paper then we better beat themn on the ice. If Calgary's D has a bad night we had better take advantage of it (although I agree Kiprusoff in goal makes the Calgary game a little more interesting). If we have 9 goals against Tampa we better go for 10. We can't control who we play against and it shouldn't matter. All that matters is consistent effort, game in, game out. Get in the first punch, knock'em down and step on their neck.
Agree about the backups
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 15:33 — vortacThe way the Canes were playing the last three games, they would have beat anyone. Brodeur wouldn't have played much better IMO. Listening to 99.9 after the Calgary game, someone called in talking about how not to get too worked up because it was just a back-up goalie. I think the goalie actually played good and made some great saves. He was hung out to dry by his defense.
And according to the Rangers message board, Valiquette is in net tonight. And if he is, he is still a tough challenge.
The Canes
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 12:28 — esteban1949Need to come out like the did with Calgary...hot heavey..and not let up for a minute. I watched the Rangers game yesterday, and we do need to be ready.
Go Canes !!