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Hurricanes hope to get on track at home versus Avalanche

Dec 3, 2010 - 4:08 PM (Sports Network) - The struggling Carolina Hurricanes are about to embark on a five-game road trip, but first they'll get a chance to end a home losing streak when they host the Colorado Avalanche tonight at RBC Center.

The Hurricanes are 5-5-1 as the host this year, but Paul Maurice's club has lost three straight in Raleigh since beating Ottawa, 7-1, on Nov. 17. Carolina will head out on its trip directly after tonight's game, as the 'Canes will face the Predators tomorrow evening in Nashville.

Colorado, meanwhile, is beginning a five-game road trip tonight after posting losses in three out of four games to end the month of November. The Avalanche, who will play all five Southeast Division teams during this swing, are 6-5-1 on the road this season.

The Hurricanes and Avs met twice in 2009-10, but tonight's test is the only scheduled encounter between the clubs this season. Each won a game on home ice to split last year's series, but Colorado has 13 wins in the last 18 matchups against Carolina. The Avs are 6-2 with a tie in their last nine trips to Raleigh.

Carolina has lost two straight heading into tonight's test and the club has managed just two wins in its last nine games, going 2-4-3 over that stretch.

The Hurricanes last played on Monday, when the visiting Dallas Stars recorded a 4-1 decision at RBC Center. James Neal posted two goals and Jamie Benn notched a goal and an assist to lead the Stars to the easy win.

Eric Staal had the lone goal for the sputtering Hurricanes, while Cam Ward fended off 29-of-33 shots in the loss.

"We just didn't have our jump tonight," Staal said. "We weren't fast enough and we weren't quick enough ... We have to try and work to get the first goal of the game ... Tonight is one of those nights where it would have been nice to get an early goal, but it didn't happen."

Staal has never scored a goal in five career games against Colorado and has just two assists over that stretch.

The Avalanche are also coming off a loss, having dropped an overtime decision to visiting Atlanta on Tuesday. Anthony Stewart scored the game-winning goal 1:49 into the extra session to lift the Thrashers to the 3-2 victory at Pepsi Center. Stewart is the older brother of Colorado forward Chris Stewart, who is sidelined for the next 4-to-6 weeks with a broken left hand.

Matt Duchene and David Jones scored for the Avalanche, who have still earned at least one point in six of their last eight games (5-2-1). Peter Budaj made 28 saves in defeat.

Colorado defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk added an assist in Tuesday's loss, giving him four goals and six assists during a seven-game point streak. It's the longest point streak by a rookie defensemen in the NHL this season.

The Avalanche are expected to activate Craig Anderson from injured reserve before tonight's game. Anderson has been out since suffering a groin injury in Vancouver on Nov. 24. It's uncertain who will get the call in net tonight, but it appears that Anderson and Budaj will split starts between this evening's tilt and tomorrow's test in Tampa Bay.

Colorado defenseman Adam Foote has also missed three straight since sustaining a leg injury against the Canucks on Nov. 24, but he is expected to make the trip and is questionable for tonight's tilt.