Canes coach Paul Maurice said there are no planned lineup changes tonight for the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Cam Ward again starting in goal.
The Canes used Eric Staal, Matt Cullen, Jussi Jokinen and Rod Brind'Amour at center against the New York Islanders, with Brind'Amour starting on the fourth line. Rookie center Brandon Sutter was a scratch Thursday night.
"I liked the way it worked last night," Maurice said. "We had the flexibility to go to four lines, if we needed to. We need more of a four-line presence right now with our schedule."
Having Tim Conboy available was a plus in the 6-2 win, Maurice said, in that the Albany callup could be used both at forward and defenseman.
"Played up front and played on the back-end," Maurice said. "I was real comfortable with him on the ice. A little energy, some physicality, and keeps everybody on their toes at the right time.
"To have a player in your lineup who can play up front and back in the same game, and not lose a beat, was an advantage and we needed it last night because we do have some guys who are a little sore at both positions."
Sutter's ice ice time has dwindled under Maurice and the Islanders game was his first scratch. Was the wear and tear of his first NHL season catching up with him?
"I don't know if the minutes he has played has worn him down," Maurice said. "But your first pro season, practicing every day with men and playing against men -- I think there's a lot there.
"I think we're looking at this potentially as something we did with (Brind'Amour). Given, his was based on injury, but giving (Sutter) a few days off the ice and a few days out of games, mentally getting him to relax and feel good again, will put him in a better position to play."
Forward Scott Walker continues to recover from post-concussion type symptoms that have kept him out of the lineup the past 10 games. Walker went through another on-ice workout Friday morning at the RBC Center.
"He had a good day to day, so that's a positive," Maurice said. "Unfortunately, a good day today doesn't mean that we set a time in the future. It just means he had a good day today and if he can replicate, three and four of them, we'll put him in practice and see how it goes."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
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Glad to hear it
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 14:43 — scomilWe need Conboy in the lineup, glad to hear this. More youth, more energy, more grit - that's what we need. Gleason, Ruutu and LaRose can't do it all by themselves. It's also good to see Staal getting more gritty lately.