• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hurricanes finally return home

Nov 7, 2008 - 2:02 PM Ottawa (6-5-2) at Carolina (7-4-2) 7:00 p.m. EST

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes are likely weary from all the travel they have endured. Now, they're in for a huge dose of home cooking.

The Hurricanes return home for what amounts to an extended stay on Friday when they host the Ottawa Senators.

Carolina has played three home games this season, second-fewest in the NHL, with eight of its last 10 contests coming on the road. The Hurricanes return to Raleigh for a three-game homestand and 12 of their next 15 games will be here at the RBC Center.

Carolina concluded its recent two-game road swing with a jarring 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday. The Hurricanes held a one-goal advantage late in the third period, but Capitals left wing Alexander Semin scored twice in the final 2:43, including the game-winner with 10 seconds left.

"It's a tough way to lose a hockey game," said Carolina coach Peter Laviolette, who was deprived a milestone by the late rally.

A Massachusetts native, Laviolette was bidding to become the all-time winningest American-born coach in NHL history. With 239 victories, he remains tied with former Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella.

The Senators, and Dany Heatley in particular, enter this game red-hot, going 4-0-1 over their last five.

Heatley, who leads the team with nine goals, has tallied in each game over that span, including Thursday's 4-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Ottawa's Filip Kuba continued to pile up assists with one more against the Flyers. In his first year with the Senators, the defenseman has not scored a goal but is tied for second in the league with 14 assists.