The Hurricanes now have four players on their roster who began the season with the Albany River Rats of the AHL.

Center Brandon Sutter and defenseman Bryan Rodney were the first oo arrive. Injuries to goaltender Michael Leighton and forward Scott Walker now will have goalie Justin Peters and forward Pat Dwyer on the Canes' roster tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dwyer was called up today from the Rats, and center Eric Staal placed on injured reserve.

"We've had some things to maneuver," Canes coach Paul Maurice said today. "But we've had some success bringing in some kids to play.

Canes players, coaches, and staff pose with their dads and family members
on the ice at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Tuesday morning. CHIP ALEXANDER - chip.alexander@newsobserver.com

MONTREAL -- The Hurricanes don't have Eric Staal, Cam Ward, Scott Walker and Joni Pitkanen with them for tonight's game against the Canadiens.

But a lot of the players brought their fathers along. It's the team's annual "Fathers Trip," which means rooming together, putting up with each other's snoring and having a lot of laughs.

"It's like old times. It was like pee-wee hockey days all over again," Canes forward Matt Cullen said. "A lot of fun."

MONTREAL -- For two seasons, Canes forward Tom Kostopoulos was a part of the experience that is playing for the Montreal Canadiens.

"It will be fun," he said of tonight's game with the Habs. "The atmosphere here with these fans, the fun feeling, makes it a great place to play."

Coming to North Carolina and the Hurricanes this season has been another type of experience. Southern living. Southern hospitality. Picking a local college team to root for — Kostopoulos says he's leaning toward N.C. State.

"The guys are already roping me in," he said with a smile. "The first thing when I got down there everyone said was, 'You've got to pick your college colors.' So, N.C. State Wolfpack for now."

Manny Legace says he doesn't talk on game days. That's OK. Call it an old goaltender thing.

But Legace will be in goal again tonight for the Islanders, starting his second game since signing with the Canes on Monday. And Canes coach Paul Maurice said it's good to have a new face, a new personality in the locker room.

"I think it's important," Maurice said today. "Somebody comes in and focuses on their own game and doesn't feel responsible for what's happened here and carry that same weight."

The Hurricanes have placed forward Tim Conboy on waivers.

Conboy has played in 10 games, averaging 4:14 of ice time, with no goals and no assists.
Placing Conboy on waivers allows the Canes to call up a player this weekend, if need be, general manager Jim Rutherford said.

Canes coach Paul Maurice said today he is not sure about the availability of forwards Scott Walker and Stephane Yelle for Friday's game against the New York Islanders but said it's possible they may play.

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.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maybe Ken Hitchcock was being nice. Or coy. Or, perhaps, truthful.

The Columbus Blue Jackets coach said today he had watched tape of some of the Canes' recent games and has been surprised by what he saw.

"I can't figure it out," he said after the Jackets' morning skate at Nationwide Arena. "I just don't see the poor play that usually comes with losing."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Lost in all the gloom and dejection of the Canes' 3-2 loss Friday to the Maple Leafs was that Zach Boychuk made his NHL debut this season and played well.

Let's just say the winger, called up Friday from Albany (AHL), played well enough to make coach Paul Maurice more than comfortable with what he saw on the ice.

"What you're hoping for, on a team struggling for offense, you're hoping fo offense," Maurice said today. "At the same time, you want to be abe to play the young player, so you want that confidence and comfort level as a coach."

The Hurricanes, winless in their last 10 games, are 30th in the NHL standings and the Toronto Maple Leafs 29th. So what kind of game will it be tonight at the RBC Center?

"9-8 tonight -- that's the prediction," Canes coach Paul Maurice said today after the morning skate.

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Canes defenseman Niclas Wallin has been with the team long enough to go through a lot of highs and lows.

A nine-game losing streak qualifies as a low. It also appears injured center Eric Staal might be out two-to-four weeks, not just a few games. Another low.

But Wallin said there has been enough talk and video sessions and practice and systems work and morale-building.

"There comes a point when you say, the heck with it, let's just go win a game," Wallin said today after the Canes' morning skate at BankAtlantic Center.