Sutter to miss game; Peters to start

Center Brandon Sutter, who suffered a leg injury Thursday against Pittsburgh, will not play tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes but could return soon, coach Paul Maurice said today.

The Canes also will give Justin Peters his second straight start after his 37-save effort in the 4-3 overtime win over the Penguins.

Maurice said Sutter was hurt on a noncontact play, losing an edge in the corner during the first period. He left the game for good after a collision with Evgeni Malkin of the Pens with about 5:30 left in the period.

"We're hopeful in a couple of days he's get a little more healing in and he'll be ready," Maurice said. "He tried it this morning and just didn't feel comfortable.

"There's no change in the injury than what we thought it was from the game time through testing, so that wasn't a setback. He just didn't feel like he could go today."

Maurice said forward Jerome Samson would be recalled from Albany (AHL). Samson has 32 goals and 29 assists for the River Rats this season.

Maurice said Erik Cole would again play on Eric Staal's line with Ray Whitney, with Jussi Jokinen centering the second line with Tuomo Ruutu and Chad LaRose. Patrick Dwyer was centering Sergei Samsonov and Tom Kostopoulos today at the skate, and Zach Boychuk working with Rod Brind'Amour.

On the decision to start Peters ahead of Manny Legace, Maurice said: "We want to keep both guys in and going and kind of pick styles of games for players we think can be better. Justin should feel real good about his performance coming off Pittsburgh and it's also a challenge for him to rebound, to have a great game against Pittsburgh and a high-end team and then play a team you don't know much about."

Sutter did get in some off-ice work today at the RBC Center.