Gameday: Hurricanes at Rangers

NEW YORK - We were just here, weren't we?
This is the gameday hub, where you can find all the latest news and information related to today's matinee faceoff between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers in one handy location. Make this a regular stop throughout the day, as we update it with notes, photos and more as puck drop draws near.
With the early-afternoon 1 p.m. puck drop, the Hurricanes will not hold a morning skate. We'll likely talk to head coach Bill Peters at some point before noon, so check back here then for the latest.
Last updated: 12:35 p.m.

CANES LINES: WARM-UPS
12:35 p.m.
Michael Leighton gets the start in net this afternoon for the Hurricanes in the front half of this back-to-back set. Forward Elias Lindholm is out with a lower-body injury, so Andrej Nestrasil draws back into the lineup.
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Puck drop at MSG is coming up in about 30 minutes!
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA TOOLS TO VICTORY
12:15 p.m.
Mike Maniscalco presents today's Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina three Tools to Victory.
1. Finish the Game
The Hurricanes have been able to start on time on this road trip, but they haven't been able to hold on. The Canes know they can build a lead on the Rangers. The key now is to be able to finish off these good starts.
2. Throw Everything at the Net
Not every shot is a good shot, but getting a high volume of shots is important. The Canes haven't had a lucky bounce on this trip, so throwing the kitchen sink at the net during a day game might change that.
3. Pressure the Points
The Hurricanes can use their speed to pester the Rangers' defense. Get out on the points and jump in passing lanes to create a transition game that can lead to that next goal that has been missing.
CANES HEAD BACK TO NYC FOR REMATCH WITH RANGERS
6:00 a.m.
When preparing for Saturday's matinee faceoff in New York, the Carolina Hurricanes don't need to look too far back to find their last meeting with the Rangers.
They also don't need a reminder of what happened in that game.
The two teams met just this week on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. Thanks to former Ranger Viktor Stalberg, the Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first period. New York then chipped away at the Canes' lead, trimming it to a goal before the second intermission and then tying the game on the first shift of the third period.
Late in the third, a questionable penalty call resulted in a power-play goal for rookie Jimmy Vesey, and the Rangers claimed a 3-2 win.
"We've got to continue to learn as we go. Obviously this is one that I don't think too many guys will be happy the way it unfolded over 60 minutes," head coach Bill Peters said after Tuesday's loss. "I thought we were in good shape at the beginning of the game, played real well and did a lot of good things. We just need to continue that and sustain quality play for 60 minutes."
That continues to be the Canes' focus, as they dropped another one-goal decision in Boston on Thursday night. Leading 1-0 in the final minute of the game, the Hurricanes surrendered the game-tying goal to the Bruins on a fluke play, as the puck bounced in off a friendly skate. The Bruins then skated away with the extra point in the shootout in a 2-1 final.
"What can you say? 20 seconds left, and our guy playing hard in front kicks it in by accident. Eventually sometimes pucks go in. What are you going to do on that one?" Ron Hainsey said. "We had plenty of chances, a few breakaways on our stick to put the thing away and get the second goal, possibly the third one."
"You've got to extend the lead. It's throughout the game, the chances you have early in the game, a couple breakaways in the game," Peters said. "There's opportunities to score. You've got to bear down, make a big-time play and make a difference."
With these two stinging losses on their minds, the Hurricanes took the ice at Chelsea Piers on Friday to work through some things ahead of the weekend back-to-back set.
"Today was an opportunity to get better, and we did," Peters said after practice. "I thought our effort was outstanding in Boston, and we need a similar type of effort tomorrow in New York."
The Hurricanes could be without forward Elias Lindholm, who sustained a lower-body injury on Thursday night and did not skate with the team in New York.
"When I saw him this morning, he sounded optimistic," Peters said on Friday. "When I meet with Pete (Friesen) we'll be realistic and make a decision."
Just as they did in last week's back-to-back set, the Hurricanes could opt to use both Cam Ward and Michael Leighton this weekend. Peters did not commit to a starter for Saturday just yet.
CANESPR NOTES: The Hurricanes are winless in their last 12 visits to Madison Square Garden, their last victory coming on Oct. 29, 2010. Since Jan. 5, 2011, they've posted a 0-9-3 record at MSG. … The Canes' penalty kill is top in the league overall (90.3 percent) and on the road (92.7 percent). Carolina was a perfect 4-for-4 on the PK in Boston on Thursday.
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