Final - OT
Well-rested 'Canes host Thrashers
Mar 9, 2011 - 4:17 PM (Sports Network) - With four days off in between games, the Hurricanes have been helpless in watching themselves fall out of the Eastern Conference playoff race. A meeting with the Thrashers could supply two points to help get them back on track.Carolina goes for its sixth straight victory over Atlanta this evening when the two Southeast Division residents square off at the RBC Center.
The Hurricanes have been idle since a 5-2 loss on Friday to the Blackhawks snapped a two-game winning streak and gave them a 6-7-3 mark in their last 16 games. Meanwhile, the Sabres have played three times since and have taken a one-point edge over Carolina for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.
Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal both scored in Friday's loss and Justin Peters gave up all five goals on 29 shots for the Hurricanes, who now return home looking for a fourth straight victory at RBC Center.
"We had some pretty good looks out there and some good chances but they didn't want to cross the line," said Staal. "Things got away from us in the third period and with the skill they have over there they took things over."
Peters was making his first start since Jan. 9, but it could be his last of the season barring injury. Cam Ward had started 24 games in a row before Friday's rest and could get the call in all 16 games down the stretch.
"We looked at the schedule, and I don't imagine there will be a lot of time when we won't be looking at him," Carolina head coach Paul Maurice told his team's website on Sunday of Ward. "Unless something comes up where he's not right or not feeling right and we don't feel he can be mentally ready for the game, I would expect that he'll be ready to go."
Ward has been in net for three of Carolina's four wins over Atlanta this year, posting a 2.24 goals-against average. He is 18-8-2 with a 3.01 GAA lifetime versus the club.
Though the Hurricanes have won all four meetings this year with the Thrashers, their 3-2 victory on Feb. 13 was the first not to go past regulation, though it came close. Erik Cole scored the game-winner with 1:19 to play for Carolina's fifth straight victory and seventh in the past eight meetings.
Andrew Ladd scored twice in the loss for the Thrashers, part of an 11-game stretch in which he has scored nine goals. He potted a pair of goals and added an assist in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win against the Panthers, scoring the winner 25 seconds into the extra frame.
"You've gotta use the good feeling and the energy that comes with that. ... We have to keep the pace up and go from there," said Ladd, who has set career highs this season in goals (25) and points (50).
Blake Wheeler also scored twice and Dustin Byfuglien had three assists, including one on Ladd's winner. Atlanta had lost seven of eight coming in and ended a five-game homestand 2-2-1. It trails Buffalo by seven points for the eighth spot.
Chris Mason made 31 saves in his fourth straight start and has been in net for each game since Ondrej Pavelec suffered a right wrist injury on Feb. 25. Pavelec did serve as the backup on Saturday and it is unknown who will get the call tonight.
Pavelec is 0-1-2 in three starts versus Carolina this year to fall to 2-4-2 against the franchise lifetime with a 3.86 GAA, while Mason is 2-2-1 with a 1.39 GAA versus the Hurricanes.
Atlanta hasn't won on the road since Jan. 17, dropping six in a row as the guest. The Thrashers have lost two straight and four of their last seven at Carolina and figure to have a hard time picking up a victory in Raleigh given that Byfuglien did not make the trip due to an unknown injury.
The blueliner has 19 goals and 30 assists this season and hadn't missed a game all season.
- ATLANTA: 3
CAROLINA: 2
Final - OT
Mar 9 9:28 PM - Atlanta Goal - Tim Stapleton (2), from Ron Hainsey at 1:38.
Thrashers 3, Hurricanes 2 OT - 3:22Mar 9 9:28 PM - ATLANTA: 2
CAROLINA: 2
End of Regulation
Mar 9 9:23 PM - Carolina Goal - Erik Cole (19), from Cory Stillman at 12:21.
Thrashers 2, Hurricanes 2 3rd - 7:39Mar 9 9:11 PM - ATLANTA: 2
CAROLINA: 1
End of 2nd
Mar 9 8:32 PM - Carolina Goal - Troy Bodie, from Jerome Samson at 11:55.
Thrashers 2, Hurricanes 1 2nd - 8:05Mar 9 8:16 PM - ATLANTA: 2
CAROLINA: 0
End of 1st
Mar 9 7:42 PM - Atlanta Goal - Tobias Enstrom (9), from Nik Antropov and Zach Bogosian at 13:27.
Thrashers 2, Hurricanes 0 1st - 6:33Mar 9 7:31 PM - ATLANTA: 0
CAROLINA: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Mar 9 7:08 PM
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