Tonight the Carolina Hurricanes host the Winnipeg Jets (formerly known as the Atlanta Thrashers) in the friendly confines of PNC Arena. The Jets are 3-3-1 in road contests this season, Carolina is 3-2-0 at home. The Canes are coming off of a 3-0 loss in Montreal on Monday night. Winnipeg is the latest team to beat the Buffalo Sabres winning 2-1 in First Niagra Center on Tuesday. The bad news for Carolina is the loss of Jeff Skinner due to a concussion. This is the 2nd concussion in 2 seasons for Skinner. There is no word on how long he may be out. He missed 16 games last season. The Canes have been bitten by the injury bug lately losing defensemen Joni Pitkanen, Tim Gleason, and Jamie McBain. Tim Brent missed Monday's game and is listed as day to day.

In an attempt to bolster the depleted defensive corps, Carolina has recalled 19 year-old defenseman Ryan Murphy from the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. Murphy will make his NHL debut paired with Jay Harrison. Drayson Bowman will move up to play with Jordan Staal and Patrick Dwyer to fill in for Skinner.

The Canes are still in 1st place in the Southeast Division  (8-5-1 17 points) and face divisional foes in the next 5 games, including a meeting with the 2nd place Lightning (18-6-1 17 points) on Saturday in Raleigh. Winnipeg is in 3rd place (6-8-1 13 points) 4 points behind Carolina and Tampa Bay.

I would like to appologize to my Sabre fan friends for that little dig earlier. Hopefully the firing of Lindy Ruff will get your team going again.