Preview: Hurricanes at Red Wings

DETROIT - Following two critical wins over Metropolitan Division opponents, the Carolina Hurricanes take to Detroit to face the Red Wings.
The Canes are 2-1-0 on their road trip, having secured four key points against the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins over the weekend.

Geeking Out
Morgan Geekie notched three points (2g, 1a) in his NHL debut on Sunday afternoon. He scored his first NHL goal on his first shot of the game. In fact, he factored in on three Canes goals on his first eight shifts in the NHL. Geekie became just the second player in franchise history to record three points in his NHL debut, joining Dan Bourbonnais (1g, 2a) from Dec. 30, 1981. Geekie is also the second player in franchise history to score two goals in his NHL debut, joining Brad DeFauw from March 10, 2003.

"He's got some grit to him. He knows how to play, and he's not afraid. I like that he had the courage to make plays. He wasn't just throwing pucks around," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "It was an excellent contribution."
"You go out there and play the game you're used to playing," Geekie said. "I just tried to go out there, keep things simple, adjust to the speed of the game and play hard."
Mrazek Ready to Go
The Hurricanes reassigned Alex Nedeljkovic to Charlotte on Monday, signaling the return of Petr Mrazek. The Canes' netminder practiced with the team on Friday and has seen shots in the days since.
PROJECTED LINEUP
"Whatever he needs. It doesn't matter to me. If he feels like he can go, we'll probably put him in," Brind'Amour said after practice on Long Island. "I'd like to get him in a full practice just for comfort and conditioning. He's been out a long time. We'll play it by ear with how he's doing."
In four career appearances against his former team, Mrazek is 2-1-0 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage.
The Last Meeting
James Reimer earned his first shutout with the Hurricanes in a
2-0 win over the Red Wings on Nov. 24
. Sebastian Aho tallied two points, including the game-winning goal and the lone assist on Teuvo Teravainen's empty-net marker, in the victory.

The Opposition
After dropping six straight games (0-5-1), the Red Wings have won two in a row, their most recent, a 5-4 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi each recorded a goal and three assists in the victory, as Detroit is relishing playing the role of spoiler down the stretch.
WORTH A CLICK
News
Podcast
Videos
Gameday Links
WATCH, LISTEN & STREAM
Watch: FOX Sports Carolinas,
FOX Sports GO
Listen: 99.9 The Fan,
Hurricanes app