RALEIGH, NC. -Finally back to a roster of 18 skaters and a pair of goaltenders, the Carolina Hurricanes are expected to be back at a full NHL lineup tonight when they meet the Los Angeles Kings.
C.J. Smith, who was signed in the offseason after playing four seasons in the Buffalo Sabres organization to begin his career, appears set to make his team regular season tonight. The 27-year-old forward had an impressive training camp with the club before being assigned to Chicago (AHL), where he'd start the season with 28 points in 24 games. He'll be one of five skaters in the big club's lineup tonight that has recently been recalled from the team's top affiliate, joining Jack Drury, Stefan Noesen, Andrew Poturalski and Josh Leivo, who he made the trek to Raleigh with yesterday. The same six remain in tact on defense and Frederik Andersen has the green light in net once again. Andersen has won his last four starts in a row entering tonight. The team's projected lineup for this evening against the Kings is as follows: Forwards: Niederreiter - Trocheck - Necas Teravainen - Kotkaniemi - Fast Drury - Stepan - Noesen C.J. Smith - Poturalski - Leivo Defensemen: Slavin - DeAngelo Skjei - Pesce B. Smith - Bear Starting Goalie: Andersen Injuries: Jordan Martinook Jalen Chatfield COVID-19 Protocol: Sebastian Aho Ian Cole Seth Jarvis Steven Lorentz Jordan Staal Andrei Svechnikov Note: Lineup subject to change prior to opening faceoff Worth A Click: Preview: Canes vs. Kings Plans Change: Drury's Path To A Captivating Debut Ten Canes Prospects Selected For World Juniors All-Star Fan Voting Open Now
