WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have a few banged-up bodies ahead of their contest against the Washington Capitals on Friday, meaning top prospect Vasily Ponomarev could play his first NHL game.
With Jesper Fast (upper-body injury) already ruled out after taking a hit to the head Saturday in Toronto, fellow forwards Martin Necas (upper-body injury) and Stefan Noesen (illness) may also miss tonight's game.
Necas suffered an upper-body injury during Thursday's practice at Invisalign Arena and Noesen did not participate in yesterday's skate because he's been under the weather.
Rod Brind'Amour said pre-game depending on who can and can't go, Ponomarev may have to play. If neither Necas nor Noesen can lace them up, the team would have to go 11 forwards and seven defensemen, including Ponomarev's debut.
The 2020 second-round pick traveled to the nation's capital from Chicago today and arrived shortly after 5 p.m. In Chicago (AHL) this season, he's produced 20 points in 20 games.
Behind it all, Pyotr Kochetkov will make his 20th start of the season. Spectacular since December 12, the 24-year-old has a .934 save percentage in nine games during that time.
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Tonight's Projected Lineup...
Forwards
Svechnikov - Aho - Teravainen
Noesen* - Kotkaniemi - Necas*
Martinook - Staal - Jarvis
Lemieux - Drury - Bunting
Ponomarev*
Defense
Slavin - Burns
Skjei - Pesce
Orlov - Chatfield
DeAngelo*
Goaltenders
Kochetkov
Raanta
Injuries
Frederik Andersen (Blood Clotting Issue)
Jesper Fast (Upper-Body Injury)
Martin Necas (Upper-Body Injury)
Stefan Noesen (Illness)
Healthy Scratches
TBD or N/A
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PP1: Aho, Bunting, Jarvis, and Svechnikov with Burns
PP2: Drury, Necas, Noesen, and Teravainen with Skjei
(As of January 2)
