Defenseman Joni Pitkanen is out but Tim Gleason will be back in.
Canes coach Paul Maurice said today that Pitkanen will sit out Thursday's game against the New York Islanders with an upper-body injury. Pitkanen, injured Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins, is day to day, Maurice said.
Gleason will be back in the lineup for the Islanders, Maurice said. The defenseman took a shot off the left hand Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets and missed the games against Buffalo and Boston.
While the Canes have others with less-serious injuries, Maurice said "tape and aspirin" should take care of it. Forward Sergei Samsonov and defensemen Niclas Wallin and Joe Corvo all were banged up in the Bruins game and taken to the locker room, but all returned to the game.
Maurice cancelled today's scheduled practice at the RecZone, saying that given the time of the season and the wear and tear of playing four games in six nights, "The last place we need to be is on the ice today."
Maurice said the coaching staff is considering possible line changes but that nothing had been decided. He said Cam Ward would be in goal for the Islanders game, and that no decision had been made on the starting goaltender for Friday's game with Tampa Bay at the RBC Center.
"Right now we're living one day at a time," he said.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Esteban1949
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:34 — ammy144Esteban, you make my day!
ammy144
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 16:34 — esteban1949esteban bows gracefully (?) and thanks Ammy144 for the kind words...but as a reminder...what i did share sadly is true. Now days college and pro-sports are all about the Money. Not against making a dollar, but i guess it's because i am an old guy, who grew up different,did and seen things a wee bit different. I may not always have the answers to all of the questions,but i do claim to understand all the questions. Now if we can only get our reps at the Statehouse and in washington,dc to do that...we'd all be a wee bit beter off ...no ?
have a great weekend...
Go Canes !!
Tape & Asprin
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 08:56 — esteban1949heck that's all us old tymers ever remember seeing used on the bench there during games between Chicago & Detroit or Boston & Montreal,but then again,players like the fictional "hanson brothers", were rare indeed.True the ownwers then bled players dry compared to the players of today, but sadly it is still a meat market out there.And if you want proof...look at how and even in NCAA sports...many colleges and universities are allowed to go and have a "look see" at juniors in High School...All for a dollar...Gee i wonder what college sports power houses would do if some how the NCAA ( the cash cow machine) would suddenly disappear...maybe then Colleges could fight over being number 1 academically...and not be producing Michael Vick wanna be's huh ?? So much for the love of sports ...C-ya...
And do remember: the thoughts ideas or opinions of this person as his, and soley his and not to be confused with the owners operators of this or any other "politically correct' publications here or world wide...( nice disclaimer huh ???)
LEIGHTON!!
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 22:42 — ego7601There is a reason why this guy was the best goalie in the AHL last season (2.10 GAA). Why do Maurice and Rutherford have so much faith in Cam, a mediocre (at best) goalie? Granted, Cam has had some spectacular games, but he needs to be more consistent before being a #1 goalie.
AHL
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:42 — mdavidhallI don't get it. There's also a reason Leighton was in the AHL last season. And has been for practically his entire career up to this point. You think Cam is inconsistent? I would hate for you to see Leighton for a stretch against NHL-level goal scorers. Oh wait, we did see that already earlier this year. How did that work out for you? His GAA this year is 3 (2.99). His GAA for his career in the NHL is over 3 (3.01). And those numbers are from a relatively small sample where a goalie should be able to pad their stats if they are playing well. You think this team is gonna score 4 goals a game consistently in front of any goalie?
You can argue that Cam needs to be more consistent, while I would argue that the team needs to be more consistent in front of him, but to argue that Michael Leighton is the answer, when you actually need to win games, in my opinion dilutes the clarity of your arguement.
-m
I Agree M
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 15:12 — Canes101MDavid,
I totally agree with you. Leighton is by far not the answer to the problem. He might be a great AHL goalie but there is a huge difference between the AHL and the NHL. That is like comparing Anika Sorenstam to PGA players. She was good in her arena but not against the big boys!
I agree though that Ward does need a break from time to time, but not right now.
Everyone needs to understand that Ward is the future of this team in the net and the guys in front of him need to be more consistent. Bottom line!
Folding Chair
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 21:37 — The_Pride_of_AfricaFolding Chair! LOL!
Not a road game!
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 19:34 — vortacPitkanen always seems to play great on the road. For some reason he can't carry it through to the home game. Actually, none of the players can do that it seems. But I have noticed that Pitkanen has a really noticeable difference between home and away games.
Please, please call up
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 18:00 — TheReaper49Please, please call up Conboy. Let him run around on the 4th line and hit people.
Send Ryan back down. If you like his play too much, keep him and send down Bayda. But this team is in dire need of an injection of heart. Yes, Conboy is a minor-leaguer. No, he’s not going to score goals or break up an Ovechkin-Semin 2-on-1. Neither is he going to single-handedly stop us from getting outscored 15-2 like we have been in our last 3 at home.
What he will do is hit people and actually knock them down. And if someone takes extreme liberties with a Cane, he will … gasp … fight them.
Conboy on his way to NY
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:23 — crazyjoedavolaI just found on Canes Country, Conboy was recalled for tonight. He is flying to NY this morning.
Conboy
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:33 — daveneThis must mean that Conboy wasn't one of the injured Rats as a result of last night's bus crash. That's good news.
Always happens
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 16:01 — Hockeydogthe day after the Canes play a big, physical team. Someone gets hurt enough to miss a game and others need tape and aspirin.
Good!
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 15:28 — tspicchialiWe can just put a folding chair in his place.