RALEIGH, N.C. -- Tampa Bay Lightning leading scorer Tyler Johnson participated in the morning skate Tuesday, but he will be a game-time decision against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Johnson aggravated a lower-body injury in Tampa Bay's 4-1 road win against the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 20.

"You can't really read too much into [the morning skate] though," said Johnson, who has 48 points through 46 games. "When I practiced [Monday], it was more about getting my hands working again. Today was a little bit better, but it's still just a pregame skate. It's tough to do any game-type stuff."

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis will return to the lineup Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes after missing 22 games with a serious hip injury.

"We've been testing it in practice for the last month and with the team the last week, so I feel really confident," Hamhuis said. "I'm just going to approach the game with a simple focus. I've been out for a while but I have full confidence in my legs."

Hamhuis sustained the injury Nov. 20 against the Anaheim Ducks when his skate caught a rut, and his abductor muscle tore away from the hip. After a difficult rehab the veteran defenseman has made a point of attending meetings and participating with the team to stay sharp.

"Developing the physical part is one thing; being sharp mentally is another part that's probably just as important or more important," Hamhuis said.

RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes will try to continue their positive play when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes lost 5-4 in a shootout at the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. The loss followed a stretch of three wins in four games.

"Going into St. Louis, scoring four times and never trailing, there are a lot of positives to take out of that game," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. "Definitely a step in the right direction."

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes are hoping for an offensive boost Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres when Alexander Semin returns to the lineup after missing 12 of 13 games because of injury and illness.

The Hurricanes are in dire need of some scoring punch, having scored more than two goals once in the past 17 games. With one goal and six points in 22 games, Semin is emblematic of Carolina's offensive woes this season.

"The expectations haven't changed (for Semin)," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. "We've talked all year long. He knows what's expected of him."

Semin will join a line with Riley Nash and Jeff Skinner, who has eight goals in 35 games.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Boston Bruins will try to put a 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday behind them when they face the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon. Boston has lost two straight and three of its past four games (1-1-2).

The Hurricanes are coming off a 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. Hurricanes captain Eric Staal, who has goals in each of his past three games, is seeking his 300th NHL goal.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes will try to end a visiting team's winning streak for the second straight game when they host the New York Rangers on Saturday.

The Hurricanes beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 Thursday night, snapping Toronto's six-game winning streak. Now the Hurricanes have the opportunity to hand the Rangers a loss after four straight wins.

Carolina has been mired in a tough stretch, losing 10 of 13. The three wins, however, have come against the Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It's more about how we play each night than it is about who we play against,” Carolina coach Bill Peters said. “When we've won those games, we haven't beaten ourselves. On Thursday, we played a very good game, we started on time, and we didn't make those mistakes that end up in the back of your net.”

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes will try to snap a six-game losing streak when they play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday at PNC Arena.

With an 8-19-3 record, the season has been a disappointment, but the Hurricanes are not showing signs of losing focus.

"It's tough losing," said forward Nathan Gerbe. "But you can't let it creep into the guys' heads that No. 1, it's acceptable and No. 2, that you can't try. I think this group gives a good effort. We'd like to win a lot more, that's for sure."

Center Eric Staal did not participate in the morning skate. Carolina coach Bill Peters described Staal as "a little sore" but said he will be ready for the game.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes lineup will be in flux until game time as they prepare for theNew Jersey Devils.

Center Eric Staal, who was hit by a shot Sunday night with 1:43 remaining in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, was on crutches after the game with ice wrapped around his foot. He took the morning skate Monday but was tentative, skating slowly and pivoting carefully.

"He tried but he came off a little sore," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. "We will make a decision at 7 p.m. and we'll warm up an extra forward."

Forward Alexander Semin, who did not skate Monday morning, has an upper-body injury and will likely miss the game. Goaltender Cam Ward, who played Sunday, did not participate in the optional skate and will start for Carolina.

Devils forward Mike Cammalleri, who left their game Saturday against the Washington Capitals, has a muscle injury and did not make the trip. Forward Patrik Elias left the game Saturday with a groin injury and is out, along with forward Travis Zajac (lower body/illness) and defenseman Adam Larsson (flu).

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The surging Detroit Red Wings will look for their third straight win Sunday when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

Detroit (16-6-5) overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the New York Rangers 3-2 Saturday at Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings have won eight of their past 11, scoring 3.6 goals per game during the stretch.

The Hurricanes (8-14-3) are a mirror image of the Red Wings in their past 11 games, having gone 3-8-0. Carolina is off a 2-1 home loss against the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Carolina coach Bill Peters will face his old team for the first time. Peters was an assistant with the Red Wings the past three seasons. Detroit coach Mike Babcock earned his 500th coaching win Saturday.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes will be without goaltender Cam Ward when they host the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said Ward has a lower-body injury, but does not believe it will keep Ward out of the lineup long-term.

"I don't think it's that serious to be honest with you," Peters said. "It's a day-to-day situation. We're going to take a day off tomorrow, we gave him yesterday, so that's three in a row and we think that's the right thing to do."

Anton Khudobin, who was in goal for a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, will get the start. The Hurricanes recalled goaltender Drew MacIntyre from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League to serve as the backup.