Looking to Rebound
The Hurricanes will be looking to bounce back after being shut out for the first time this season, 3-0, by the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
"We simply just weren't quite all there tonight. We don't have the luxury of having a 50-60 goal scorer who can take the game over. We have to do it all by committee," Justin Williams said after the game. "We weren't all clicking tonight, and as a result, goose egg."
"Tonight was probably … the game I didn't like the most of all of them," Brind'Amour said "Even saying that, it was a grind game. There wasn't a lot going on for either team, but we've got to try to find ways to put the puck in the net. That's been the challenge here."
PROJECTED LINEUP
After beginning the season 4-0-1, the Hurricanes have slipped to 2-6-1 in their last nine games.
"Teams are tightening up and playing harder, better and smarter," Justin Faulk said. "You've got to bring it every night. Every team is looking to get better and improve on their game. We need to, too."
Mrazek Day-to-Day
The Hurricanes still have three goaltenders on their roster, and the team might be turning back to Curtis McElhinney in net soon. Petr Mrazek suffered a lower-body injury in Arizona on Friday and is day-to-day. He was scratched on Saturday and did not practice Monday.
"I just talked to him, and he said he's feeling better," Brind'Amour said. "I know Petr is not ready to play, but the other two guys are."
The Opposition
After losing 5-1 to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, the Blues dropped to 2-2 on their season-long, seven-game homestand. The team sits at 4-5-3 (11 points) through the first 12 games of the season, and Ryan O'Reilly is riding a seven-game point streak.
"Regardless of who we play, if we get to our game, we'll be fine and in good shape," Brind'Amour said. "They're going to be desperate, too. They're in the same boat we are, coming off a tough one. They've got some high-end players. I don't think they're too happy with the start to their year, so we're going to have a grind, I'm sure."
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS KEYS TO THE GAME
