Hurricanes face Capitals without Staal after calf injury update

The Carolina Hurricanes were set to host the Washington Capitals on October 13 without captain Jordan Staal, after the team reported that a calf tear could keep him out for one to two months. The injury update came as Carolina sought a sixth straight victory. The Hurricanes’ official projected-lineup report and Canes Country’s game preview both placed Pyotr Kochetkov in the expected starting role in goal. ^[2]

Carolina adjusts through the middle

Staal had missed Sunday’s victory in Philadelphia with a lower-body problem, according to the team. Its Tuesday report said coach Rod Brind’Amour had revised the outlook after initially expressing hope that the injury was not serious. The longer absence leaves Carolina managing a change at center while attempting to sustain its early winning run. ^[1]

The official projection kept Mark Jankowski between Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Martinook. Carolina said Jankowski had scored in four consecutive contests, including Sunday’s game after moving into that role. Jesperi Kotkaniemi was projected between Eric Robinson and Nicolas Deslauriers on another line. Brind’Amour also expected a forward call-up, but the report did not identify a completed recall. ^[1]

Washington provides another division test

Canes Country reported that Carolina entered the meeting with a 5-1-1 record, while Washington was 3-2-0 after a loss to Seattle. Its preview noted that the Capitals had won an earlier meeting in Raleigh 5-2. The rematch therefore brought together a team on a five-game winning streak and an opponent that had already beaten it in the same building. ^[2]

The Hurricanes said Kochetkov had improved to 3-0-0 after making 18 saves against Philadelphia. The team had alternated him with Brandon Bussi over its previous five games, but Tuesday’s morning-skate arrangement pointed toward a consecutive start. Carolina listed a 6:45 p.m. start at Lenovo Center and coverage on Hurricanes Hockey Network. The published lineup remained a projection, and neither preview supplied a final score for the October 13 game. ^{[1] [2]}