RALEIGH, N.C. - Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere returns to the Carolina Hurricanes' lineup on Saturday when they host the New Jersey Devils.
Sidelined for over three weeks due to a lower-body injury that has impacted a good chunk of his season, the defender was back at practice on Friday, working alongside Alexander Nikishin at five-on-five. Also resuming duties on the first power play unit, his 0.96 points per game this season rank tied for seventh among all NHL defenders this season (min. 10 games played). It is expected Mike Reilly will sit to make room.
In net, Brandon Bussi will make his 34th start of the season. A victor in his most recent appearance, last Friday in Toronto, the 27-year-old earned a win over New Jersey on Jan. 4, turning away 28 out of 29 shots faced.
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Tonight's Projected Lineup...
Forwards
Svechnikov - Aho - Jarvis
Hall - Stankoven - Blake
Ehlers - Staal - Martinook
Carrier - Jankowski - Robinson
Defense
Slavin - Chatfield
Miller - Walker
Gostisbehere - Nikishin
Starting Goaltender
Bussi
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Injuries
Pyotr Kochetkov (Hip Surgery | "Likely Out For The Year" as of Dec. 29)
Scratches
Nicolas Deslauriers
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Mike Reilly
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PP1: Aho, Ehlers (Staal), Jarvis, and Svechnikov with Gostisbehere
PP2: Blake, Hall, Jankowski, and Stankoven with Nikishin
Jordan Staal has been taking the faceoffs with the first power play unit. If he wins it, he'll stay on the ice. When the puck comes out of the zone, he jumps off, and Nikolaj Ehlers jumps on.
