'BIG' OPPORTUNITY

RALEIGH -Alan Quine has put in the work.
Since turning pro back in the 2013-14 season, he has focused at honing his skills to give himself a chance at becoming a regular in the NHL. He's scored 71 goals and 195 points in 244 AHL games, and 27 points in 99 tilts during his stints with the New York Islanders and Flames.
He started this season in Stockton, putting in plenty of minutes with the Heat and helping them get off to a 6-1-1 start, posting five points in four games.
Now, after being recalled this past weekend, he has another chance to prove his worth at the NHL level. He skated in Saturday's Heritage Classic, logging 8:22 of ice time in the 2-1 OT setback, and is back in the lineup tonight in North Carolina.
"For many years, I've been trying to prove myself and this comes at a good time," he said. "Hopefully I can prove myself here tonight."

He will get every opportunity to showcase his skills when the Flames clash with the 'Canes at 5 p.m. (TV: Sportsnet Flames; RADIO: Sportsnet 960 The FAN), starting on a line with Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett.
"It's big," he said of the opportunity. "(Monahan) is a good goal-scorer and Benny's a heck of a player as well. Hopefully we have good chemistry, play in their end and create opportunities. Hopefully we can get a few for our team.
"I'm just happy to be a part of it tonight and have a good opportunity with Mony and Benny. Hopefully we get the win."
Quine has played all sorts of roles over the course of his career, making him confident in his ability to slide onto the line seamlessly.
"I just like to use my speed, create havoc, create turnovers, possess the puck when we get it, make the right plays, play a full 200-foot game. Hopefully we generate enough chances that some are going to go in."

Head coach Bill Peters likes the pace Quine brings to the game and believes his back-checking ability will help bring some defensive consistency into their team game.
"He's played with good players lots in the past," Peters said. "He'll play with good players again tonight. He's a good two-way guy. He can do a little bit of everything offensively and that's what we need. We need all four lines chipping in and playing the right way.
"We've got to make sure we look after their D. Their D are going to be active and we've got to make sure we reload and do the best we can to keep them out of the rush."
This evening's match-up will be a good test for the Flames, with the Hurricanes sitting third in the Metropolitan Division with a 7-3-1 record and 15 points on the year.
"They play real quick," Peters assessed. "You look at the line now with Necas up and then they went out and got Dzingel and Haula, that line has a lot of pace in my opinion. And they play the right way. They're strong down the middle and (have an) active D.
"They get the game going so you've got to be willing to skate and do the work."