Hurricanes at Blues Game Preview

So, in case you missed it, the Blackhawks fired coach Joel Quenneville today. Just saying, that if the Blues turn in another clunker tonight a very familiar mustache might be making his return.

Someone who may be making his exit after tonight is rookie Robert Thomas. He’s getting a chance on the second line tonight centering Robby Fabbri and David Perron due to Brayden Schenn’s injury. Schenn is listed as day-to-day after leaving Saturday night’s loss to the Wild. Zach Sanford is on the third line, Pat Maroon is on the fourth, and it looks like Mike Yeo has dusted off Ken Hitchcock’s line blender.

As a minor miracle, however, that line blender has shredded Jay Bouwmeester’s number. He’s benched tonight, with Carl Gunnarsson moving to the top pairing and Jordan Schmaltz returning.

Chad Johnson is between the pipes for the Hurricanes, who are a middling 6-6-2 this season. It looks like it’s shaping up to be another status quo year in Carolina - not good, but not bad enough for a decent draft pick.

Meanwhile, the goalie not in net tonight is saying that the Blues have hit “rock bottom.”

“Last game shouldn’t be something we’re proud of. Obviously it’s a disappointing effort for us, especially at home. We’ve got to find it here. There’s really no more answers, and no more questions, and no more talking.”

Apparently recently there hasn’t been much winning, either, though this go-round that isn’t really on Jake. A win tonight would be a nice statement from the team that maybe playing is still on the table. A loss to the average Hurricanes, and a statement needs to come from the top.