News & Notes

• The usual weekly round-up has been posted at the Rats' website.

• Forward Nicolas Blanchard talks with the Albany Times Union about his three-game suspension. More here.

• The River Rats released rookie Matt Schepke from his professional tryout contract. 

• Forward Brad Herauf is questionable for tomorrow's game at home against Adirondack. Herauf left the ice Saturday with a lower-body injury after absorbing a hit along the boards.

• Forwards Chad LaRose, Erik Cole and Sergei Samsonov of the Carolina Hurricanes remain day-to-day with injuries. Unless two of three are healthy to play in the Canes' next contest on Thursday, Carolina will be looking for help from Albany.

• Canes' forward Scott Walker, who sustained an upper-body injury on New Years Eve, is scheduled to undergo surgery this week. He is expected to miss at least a month. The Raleigh News & Observer has the news.

• Defenseman Joe Corvo of the Carolina Hurricanes, who suffered a severe leg laceration in late November, is recovering ahead of schedule. Read more at Tracking the Storm.  

• Carolina D-man Aaron Ward is scheduled to play Thursday in his tenth game since clearing waivers. After 10 games of action, Ward will be ineligible for reassignment.