Gameday: Hurricanes at Flames

CALGARY - Fire emoji.
This is the gameday hub, where you can find all the latest news and information you need to know for tonight's Western Canada finale featuring the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames. Make Hurricanes.com a regular stop throughout the day, as we update this hub with notes, photos and more as puck drop draws near.
After an off day on Wednesday, the Hurricanes return to the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday for an 11:30 a.m. local time (1:30 p.m. ET) morning skate, and we'll be there to bring you the latest.
Last updated: 5:30 p.m.

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA TOOLS TO VICTORY
5:30 p.m.
With a tip of the cap to The Tragically Hip, Mike Maniscalco sets the table for tonight's match-up in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina three Tools to Victory.
1. Fully Completely
Get the matchup that puts Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce on the ice against Johnny Gaudreau. That duo shut down the dangerous Connor McDavid Tuesday night in Edmonton. Gaudreau is as dangerous a scorer as you can find and already has nine points this season (2g, 7a), so finding ways to get that pair on the ice against him on the road is a must.
2. Fireworks
Put the puck on net. It might sound simple, but it is something that has been demanded in practice by head coach Bill Peters. This doesn't mean that the Hurricanes have to out-shoot Calgary, but when the opportunity is there to get the puck to the net, the Canes should not hesitate to do so. If you need an example, see Teuvo Teravainen's two goals against the Oilers.
3. The Wherewithal
Get on the Calgary D. The Flames defensive corps likes to get involved on the rush and in the offensive zone, so staying aware of their positioning is key. The Canes can't get caught napping on the active Calgary defenders.
CANES ACTIVATE VAN RIEMSDYK FROM INJURED RESERVE
4:50 p.m.
Trevor van Riemsdyk's return to the Hurricanes' lineup is imminent, as the team activated him from injured reserve this afternoon. After missing the team's last three games with a concussion, van Riemsdyk will skate alongside Haydn Fleury on the Hurricanes' third defensive pairing.
IN THE ROOM: BILL PETERS
2:40 p.m.
Head coach Bill Peters briefly spoke with the media following his team's morning skates. Here are some highlights.
On the Canes' identity: "We want to be the team setting the tone. We haven't done as good of job of that yet this year. We've played four times, and I don't think we've gotten to our identity on a consistent basis, but I think that's going to happen as we get playing some more games and get in the rhythm of playing. We want to be aggressive and force the issue."
On giving up 51 shots on goal in Edmonton: "We were averaging 25 going into the game, so that was very unusual for us to give up that many. There was quality and quantity, and we've got to tighten that up."
On his team's defense jumping into the rush: "We need our D to be active. You saw a little bit of that in the Edmonton game and hopefully you see more of it throughout the D corps tonight."
On tonight's opponent: "They're playing real well right now. They're a very dangerous team, so we've just got to make sure we're committed to reloading and being above people."
CANES LINES: MORNING SKATE
1:35 p.m.
It looks like the Hurricanes will tweak their lineup a bit heading into tonight's game in Calgary. Brock McGinn is back in, and Trevor van Riemsdyk might be good to go on defense.
Teravainen-Staal-Williams
Aho-Rask-Lindholm
Skinner-Ryan-McGinn
Nordstrom-Kruger-Jooris
Slavin-Pesce
Faulk-Hanifin
Fleury-van Riemsdyk
Darling
Ward
We'll go inside the room and speak with the head coach following the skate.

CANES FACE RESTED FLAMES
12:00 a.m.
A four-game road swing through the Western Conference continues for the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night when they face off with a rested Calgary Flames club.
An unusual gap in scheduling gifted the Flames with four days in between games; they last played on Saturday, a 5-2 win in Vancouver.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are coming off a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Led by Teuvo Teravainen's two first-period goals and Jordan Staal's four points, which included the game-winning goal and two primary assists, the team's offense broke through.
"It was an intense game. We needed the points," Staal said after the game. "We knew as a group that we had to find a way to win, and we did just that."
The victory didn't come without its challenges, though. Up 3-0 after the first period and leading 4-1 early in the third period, the Canes' lead was reduced to just a goal with about 12 minutes left to play in regulation.
"We started on time, but that was about it. The rest of it left a little to be desired," head coach Bill Peters said. "We turned it over too much and made it real hard on ourselves and therefore gave up 50-plus shots."
"We made it interesting again, but we'll continue to learn from those ones," Staal said. "Obviously a very dangerous team, so they're going to make a push back. They did a good job of trying to climb back into it, but Wardo ended up finishing them off at the end."
In his season debut, Cam Ward made 48 saves on 51 shots, perhaps his biggest coming in the third period when the Canes led 4-3 and he stoned Patrick Maroon's breakaway attempt.
"I felt really good. Some nights it's not going to be the prettiest, and as a goaltender, you've just got to give your team a chance to win," Ward said. "We certainly scored enough today to win, and fortunately I was seeing the puck real well and held the fort."
In their third game of a four-game road swing, the Hurricanes will now look to string together wins for the first time this season. They'll attempt to do so against a 4-2-0 Flames squad in a building where they've won just one game since 2002.
Trevor Carrick was reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday, likely signaling the return of Trevor van Riemsdyk, who has missed the Canes' last three games with a concussion.
CANESPR NOTES: The Canes topped the Flames 4-2 in Calgary on Oct. 20, 2016, their first win at the Saddledome since Dec. 12, 2002. … With two assists on Tuesday night against Edmonton, Justin Williams now has 62 career multi-assist games, 24 of which have come with the Canes.
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