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After trades, new-look Hurricanes and Wild face off

Feb 10, 2007 - 5:00 PM Carolina (28-22-7) at Minnesota (30-22-4) 8:00 pm EST

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes and the Minnesota Wild hope changes to their rosters will spark playoff runs.

Carolina acquired center Josef Vasicek from Nashville for Eric Belanger on Friday. Vasicek spent his first five seasons with the Hurricanes but did not get much playing time with the Predators, recording just four goals and nine assists in 38 games this campaign.

Carolina has 63 points in the competitive Eastern Conference, good for seventh place but just one point behind Montreal for sixth and two in back of Pittsburgh and Ottawa, which are even for the fourth spot.

The Wild on Friday acquired Adam Hall from the New York Rangers for Pascal Dupuis. Expected to play, Hall did not have a huge impact on the Rangers, tallying just four goals and eight assists in 49 games.

Carolina posted a 5-2 win over Boston on Thursday. Ray Whitney recorded a natural hat trick in a 1:40 span late in the second period for the Hurricanes, who dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Bruins on Saturday.

Winners of four of its last five games, Minnesota posted a 4-2 victory over Florida on Thursday. Niklas Backstrom made a season-high 41 saves and Todd White and defenseman Brent Burns each had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who entered just 1-2-2 in their previous five home games.

Minnesota is tied with Vancouver for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.