HURRICANES (37-25-5) at RED WINGS (17-48-5) 7:30 p.m. ET; FS-D, FS-CR, NHL.TV
The Hurricanes are tied with the New York Islanders for the second wild card, two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets. Carolina has won two straight games after going 1-4-1 in its previous six. Goalie Petr Mrazek is expected to start for the Hurricanes after missing six games with a head injury. Detroit has won two in a row after a six-game winless streak (0-5-1).
Players to watch
Hurricanes forward Justin Williams has scored five goals in a four-game point streak. Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has seven points (two games, five assists) in a four-game point streak.
They said it
"We're hoping Petr comes in and shuts the door on them, but the first thing we need is for him to look comfortable after being off so long. If he can get into a rhythm and make all the saves we expect, that will be big for us. But what he gives us is saves we didn't expect to get."-- Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour on goalie Petr Mrazek "I was never sure that I would play one game in the NHL, so it is a huge moment for me to be able to say that I've played 500 games and do all of it for this organization. It's been a huge blessing for me." -- Red Wings forward Luke Glendening
Dzingel, a forward, and Reimer, a goalie, each skated Tuesday. … Zadina had been practicing with the Red Wings but the forward missed the morning skate with an unrelated injury.
Stat pack
Geekie is the second player in Whalers/Hurricanes history to have three points in his NHL debut. Dan Bourbonnais did it for Hartford against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 30, 1981. … Larkin (53 points) is the 10th Red Wings skater with at least 50 points in three or more consecutive seasons. Steve Yzerman is the Detroit leader with five. Marcel Dionne had four.
