Carolina Hurricanes (2-4-1, 4th/SE) at New York Islanders (0-3-3, 5th/Atl)

7 p.m. | Nassau [gloriously unsponsored] Veterans Mem. Coliseum | MSG+

Storm chasers: Canes Country

Canes visitor "Raccoon Fink" gets a nod for providing us with an updated crest image for his franchise of choice in the game preview. I pledge to put it to use next time, but tonight the nod to history must continue -- particularly in honor of the NHL finally making Whalers jerseys available again.

I appreciated Fink's gesture in all its spirit; but in case there are any overly sensitive Canes fans drifting by, know this: Not all who respect the Whale hate your kind -- a pawn in the NHL's franchise shuffleboard game like any other fanbase. Believe it or not, some of us just love hockey.

Doug Weight is supposedly healthy enough to play, so we should be spared a Jon Sim appearance on the first line. Other than that, your as-yet-winless game thread begins now...