The Carolina Hurricanes practiced Thursday morning before they fly out to Florida for a back-to-back against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning Friday and Saturday.
Here are a few of the updates from practice:
- Brett Pesce once again practiced in a regular jersey today and took reps beside his usual partner, Brady Skjei. Pesce had surgery on Oct. 24 to correct a lower-body issue. Rod Brind'Amour confirmed that Pesce will be on the trip and he is expected to be a game-time decision in Florida.
"We're hoping that he's a game-time decision," Brind'Amour said. "We're right around the corner if not, but hopefully he'll get in there."
- Jesper Fast was absent from practice today, but Brind'Amour confirmed that it was just a maintenance day for the Swedish winger.
- With Pesce taking normal practice reps with Skjei, it seemed to be that Tony DeAngelo was the extra skater. He also alternated with Dmitry Orlov on the top power play unit, further implying that he may sit if Pesce is good to go.
"I'm not going to worry about it till I know if Pesce can play," Brind'Amour said about having seven defensemen again. "Again, it's a good problem to have."
- Jaroslav Halak, who joined the team on a professional tryout, was once again participating in practice alongside Antti Raanta and Pyotr Kochetkov.
"I don't know yet, to be honest with you," Brind'Amour said on if he anticipates Halak getting a contract. "I know he's here on a tryout. We'll see where his game is once that ends."
Hurricanes Practice Lines
Seth Jarvis - Sebastian Aho - Martin Necas
Andrei Svechnikvo - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Teuvo Teravainen
Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - Brendan Lemieux*
Michael Bunting - Jack Drury - Stefan Noesen
Jaccob Slavin - Brent Burns
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Dmitry Orlov - Jalen Chatfield
Tony DeAngelo
*With Fast absent, Lemieux filled in in his spot
Power Play 1
- Jarvis, Aho, Necas, Teravainen, DeAngelo/Orlov
Power Play 2
- Noesen, Bunting, Kotkaniemi, Svechnikov, Burns
Brind'Amour Post-Practice Quotes
- On fluctuating lines and pairs: "We really haven't had our full group out there at all for any game and we won't with Freddie being out for a long time, but I'd love to get some more stability. I think everyone would, but we need to get healthy to do that. You'd love to get some consistency with the group."
- On Dmitry Orlov settling in: "We ask a lot out of our defensemen, for sure, compared to maybe most teams. But once you grasp it, they all enjoy playing it. And I think you're right, [Orlov]'s looked more comfortable lately.
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