Pitkanen out, Gleason also ailing for Hurricanes

Thursday, 02.14.2013 / 1:11 PM | Kurt Dusterberg - NHL.com Correspondent

RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes will be without defenseman Joni Pitkanen for Thursday night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Pitkanen is expected to miss several days after leaving Tuesday's 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils with an injury.

Fellow blueliner Tim Gleason could also be out. He is nursing a lower-body injury, after playing 20:07 against the Devils.

Carolina has recalled defenseman Michal Jordan from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. He has yet to make his NHL debut.

Coming off a successful 4-1-1 road trip in which Cam Ward was strong in the net, the Hurricanes will turn to Dan Ellis against the Maple Leafs. In the most recent game at PNC Arena -- back on Feb. 1 -- Ellis shut out the Ottawa Senators, 1-0.

The Maple Leafs are riding their first four-game winning streak since Jan. 3-9, 2012. Their last loss came to the Hurricanes in a 4-1 decision in Toronto.

"The Staal brothers are big-bodied centerman who drive the offense for the Carolina hockey club," Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. "We found out first hand in our building how dominant they can be. We have to be neat and tidy and do some things to limit their time and space."

Here are the projected lineups for the Hurricanes and Maple Leafs:

HURRICANES

Jiri Tlusty – Eric Staal – Alexander Semin

Jeff Skinner – Jordan Staal – Patrick Dwyer

Drayson Bowman – Jussi Jokinen – Chad LaRose

Andreas Nodl – Tim Brent – Tim Wallace

Tim Gleason/Michal Jordan – Joe Corvo

Justin Faulk – Jamie McBain

Jay Harrison – Bobby Sanguinetti

Dan Ellis

Cam Ward

Injuries: Tuomo Ruutu, Joni Pitkanen