ASS News » halted as they host the Flames on Monday night

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Carolina Hurricanes were shut out in their most recent trip to the ice, but their offensive struggles are nowhere near as alarming as what is currently plaguing the Calgary Flames. The Canes look to bounce back after having their longest winning streak of the season halted as they host the Flames on Monday night. The Flames will not have Mike Cammalleri in their lineup after he suffered a concussion in the Flames 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Carolina won the first four of their recent five-game win streak by one-goal margins, netting 14 goals in that span. Following a postponed game versus Buffalo due to weather, the Hurricanes routed the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 on Thursday, but saw their offense go cold in a 3-0 setback at Columbus the following night. Anton Khudobin made 21 saves for the Hurricanes, who were shut out for the third time this season and for the first time since Dec. 9. "The first period was like a chess match type of game for both teams," Carolina coach Kirk Muller said. "Nothing was going on, which we were quite happy with. "Then, one or two breakdowns and they capitalized. Theyre a good team. They play a good system. They dont give up much. We dont give up much either, but we werent able to sustain that second and third opportunity and capitalize." The Blue Jackets were able to slow down Canes forward Jeff Skinner, who went into the game with 17 goals in his previous 17 contests but couldnt find the back of the next on Friday despite a team-high seven shots on net. Skinner could get some help on Monday if captain Eric Staal can return from a lower-body injury that has sidelined him the past three games. Staal, who had played in 191 consecutive games, was able to return to practice on Sunday and has 10 goals and 35 points in 42 games this season. "Weve got to see how he responds to (Sunday). We want to be smart," Muller told Carolinas website. "We have all the days off after that, so we want to make sure if hes ready to go (Monday), its nothing that sets him back." Carolina will now take on a Calgary team that has been in an offensive rut for the last two-plus weeks. The Flames have been outscored 13-1 over a three-game slide and 26-6 over their past eight games, a span in which they have been shut out five times while going 1-7-0. Calgary was nearly blanked again on Saturday versus the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins until Mikael Backlund scored at 11:29 of the third period in a 2-1 loss. Backlunds goal snapped a club-record 196-minute, 59-second scoring drought at home for the Flames. Reto Berra was solid in the loss with 24 saves. "I wasnt as good as the guy on the other side tonight," said Berra. "You know, the guys in front made some blocks and I was able to make some saves, but not enough." The Flames will play two straight and four of their next five on the road. Calgary didnt light up the lamp all that much in its first meeting with Carolina this season, but still managed a 2-1 home victory in overtime on Dec. 12. Chris Butler scored the winning goal with inside of four seconds left in the bonus frame, while Karri Ramo made 29 saves. That included a stop on Skinner during a third-period penalty shot. The Flames beat the Hurricanes for the sixth time in the past eight meetings, but have lost two straight in Carolina. Skinner had a goal and Justin Peters made 28 saves for Carolina. The Hurricanes activated forward Riley Nash off injured reserve on Saturday while sending forwards Zach Boychuk and Brett Sutter to the minors. Nash had missed the past five games with a lower-body injury and has four goals with six assists in 36 games this season. Denis Malgin Panthers Jersey . The teams all-time leading scorer, DeRo has won everything there is to win in MLS. Evgenii Dadonov Jersey . That Ginette Reno can sing. http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline.com/colton-sceviour-hockey-jersey/ . -- Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew practiced in a limited capacity Friday, a positive sign he might be able to play against the Tennessee Titans. Jonathan Huberdeau Jersey .com) - Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has been selected as the NHLs Rookie of the Month for December, the league announced Friday. Colton Sceviour Jersey . The NFL announced Friday that the Texans sixth-year veteran offensive lineman will replace Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters in the Jan.MIAMI -- In his season finale, Miami Marlins rookie sensation Jose Fernandez pitched seven innings, hit his first major-league homer and engaged in a standoff with the annoyed Atlanta Braves that cleared both benches and bullpens. When he had completed his eventful evening, Fernandez slowly walked off the mound one last time, removing his cap as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Two relievers pitched the final two innings, and the woeful Marlins beat the playoff-bound Braves 5-2. The game was the last of the season for the demonstrative 21-year-old Fernandez because he passed his 170-inning limit set by the Marlins. A top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, he finished 12-6 with an ERA of 2.19, second-lowest in the majors behind only the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw. Fernandez homered in the sixth inning, and after slowly circling the bases he engaged in a heated exchange with catcher Brian McCann, which prompted the other players to join them. Shoves were swapped but no punches were evident, and no one was ejected. Bad blood became evident in the top of the sixth, when Fernandez stared at the Braves bench muttering as he walked off the mound to end the inning, then waved his arms in agitation in the dugout. It was unclear what he was upset about, and the Marlins led 4-1 at the time. When Fernandez homered a short time later, he admired the hit before slowly starting into his trot. He spat as he rounded third base, and third baseman Chris Johnson said something to him. McCann and Fernandez then traded words at the plate, and after umpire Sam Holbrook stepped between them, other players quickly joined the dispute. Fernandez laughed as he was pulled away by teammates, and the crowd of 25,111 roared. Fernandez returned to the mound to pitch a hitlesss seventh and complete his season.dddddddddddd He allowed five hits and one run, walked three and struck out five, and finished 9-0 in 15 home starts. The Braves only run off Fernandez came when Evan Gattis homered on the first pitch of the sixth. Atlanta went 0 for 7 against the right-hander with runners in scoring position. Miamis Giancarlo Stanton hit his 20th homer and drove in three runs. Fernandez caught a break in the first inning. Jordan Schafer led off with a double and advanced on a flyout, and with two out, a pitch by Fernandez got past catcher Koyie Hill. But the ball caromed directly back to the catcher, Schafer held, and Gattis grounded out on the next pitch to end the inning. A similar, improbable ricochet on a pitch led to a rundown that gave the Braves the final out in their 4-3 victory Tuesday. Fernandez pitched around a two-out double by Andrelton Simmons in the second. He walked two in the fourth, when the Braves loaded the bases with two out, but Elliot Johnson popped out to end the inning. Fernandez again escaped trouble -- and injury -- in the fifth. With two out and a runner at second, Freddie Freeman shattered his bat on a squibber to the pitcher. Fernandez fielded the ball and avoided the barrel of the bat, which rolled under his glove, then threw to first for the out to end the inning. Notes: Braves RF Justin Upton was back in the lineup after leaving Tuesdays game when he fouled a ball off his right knee. ... Hanging in the Marlins dugout near the bat rack was a team jersey, and on the back it read, "Never Forget 9-11." ... Marlins RHP Nathan Eovaldi is likely to be scratched from scheduled start Thursday against Atlanta because of back tightness. Rookie LHP Brian Flynn would take his place. ' ' '