Pitkanen to miss Kings game

Canes defenseman Joni Pitkanen will miss tonight's game against the LA Kings, coach Paul Maurice said after today's morning skate.

Pitkanen has had a cold and is running a fever, Maurice said. Trainer Pete Friesen says Pitkanen does not have the H1N1 flu.

"We'll keep him at home until he feels better," Maurice said.

With Pitkanen out, Aaron Ward will be paried with Niclas Wallin, and Andrew Alberts possibly will Tim Conboy. Maurce said a player may be recalled from Albany (AHL). The Canes recently reassigned Jay Harrison to the River Rats and also could call up Bryan Rodney.

Is this the day, the game, the 12-game winless streak ends?

"That's the way you have to approach it," Maurice said. "And then when it does happen, it's only a game and you move on to the next one.

"We feel the urgency each night now, but it's also important for us to leave a lot of that behind and not bring it into each game because that's a heavy burden to carry. To play with the quickness and confidence that you need itoplay with in this league, you should bring the fire that it adds to your game but we've got to leave everything else behind."