VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes are expected to have a bit of a different look to their lineup on Tuesday when they take on the Vancouver Canucks.
Up front, a few different wingers are likely to find themselves with new centers, as Nikolaj Ehlers, Bradly Nadeau, and Eric Robinson had all been moved to different lines at morning skate. Jordan Martinook is expected to remain in the middle as the team tries to band-aid its way through the injuries of Mark Jankowski and Jordan Staal.
On the blue line, Juuso Välimäki appears in line to make his team debut and play his first NHL game in 632 days. Working next to Shayne Gostisbehere this morning, the 28-year-old Finn was acquired from Utah earlier in 2026 and played a key role in the Chicago Wolves' run to the Calder Cup Finals last season.
"We've liked his game. That's why he's here," Rod Brind'Amour reasoned when he spoke to the media after the skate. "It's tough to be on the shelf for a long time and then get put into a game, especially against a really fast team like this, but you know we're going to need him at some point."
Behind the cast of skaters, Pyotr Kochetkov will try to keep his perfect start to the season going. He has won all five of his starts and allowed two goals or fewer in each.
See if the Canes can start a new win streak at 10:00 p.m. ET on Hurricanes Hockey Network.
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Tonight's Projected Lineup...
Forwards
Carrier - Aho - Svechnikov
Ehlers - Stankoven - Blake
Robinson - Martinook - Unger Sörum
Nadeau - Kotkaniemi - Deslauriers
Defense
Slavin - Chatfield
Miller - Walker
Gostisbehere - Välimäki
Starting Goaltender
Kochetkov
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Injuries
Taylor Hall (Upper-Body Injury | Out Week-to-Week as of Oct. 16)
Mark Jankowski (Lower-Body Injury | Sent Back to Raleigh on Oct. 18)
Seth Jarvis (Offseason Shoulder Surgery | Practicing | Expected To Be Out 4-6 Months From June 24)
Jordan Staal (Calf Tear | Expected To Be Out "A Month or Two" From Oct. 13)
Scratches
Mike Reilly
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PP1: Aho, Blake, Ehlers, and Svechnikov with Gostisbehere
PP2: Kotkaniemi, Nadeau, Stankoven, and Unger Sörum with Miller
