ST. LOUIS - The Carolina Hurricanes are not only battling the Blues on Saturday, but also the flu bug as they wrap up their five-game road trip in St. Louis.
Rod Brind'Amour told reporters pre-game that his team has an illness going around; however, in his usual character, he reiterated that "the excuse jar is full" and they won't let that be a reason for anything less than their best.
"It's a type of game that we know is going to take everybody," the head coach said.
If everybody is available, goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is likely to be between the pipes. With a perfect 6-0 record in his first six starts this season, the 27-year-old has had a nice bounce back after playing in just nine games last season due to injuries. He has faced the Blues three times in his young career, allowing a total of just six goals.
In front of him, the team is not expected to make any changes to their lineup of skaters.
Recording three goals in his last two games, Logan Stankoven now co-leads the team with seven on the season.
Defenseman Juuso Välimäki will look to record a point for a third straight game after making an immediate impact in his first two contests.
Forward Skyler Brind'Amour is expected to be in the lineup again after making his season debut on Thursday in Edmonton. Felix Unger Sörum, who was the lone healthy extra up front in Edmonton, was reassigned to Chicago (AHL) moments ago.
See if the Canes can close out their road trip on a high note at 7:00 p.m. ET on Hurricanes Hockey Network.
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Tonight's Projected Lineup...
Forwards
Carrier - Aho - Svechnikov
Ehlers - Stankoven - Blake
Martinook - Kotkaniemi - Jarvis
Robinson - Brind'Amour - 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)
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: Jarvis, Kotkaniemi, and Stankoven, with Miller and Välimäki
