• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Injury-plagued Hurricanes look to avoid third straight loss

Jan 15, 2008 - 2:57 PM Carolina (22-21-4) at Toronto (16-21-8) 7:30 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes are struggling to get healthy, and their division lead is in jeopardy.

With multiple players' status for the game still questionable, the Hurricanes look to avoid a third straight loss Tuesday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs.

If all the injury problems were not enough, the flu has spread through the Carolina locker room, possibly sidelining Ray Whitney, Trevor Letowski, Wade Brookbank and defenseman Glen Wesley.

The Hurricanes also have faced a slew of injuries. Justin Williams, Scott Walker and blue-liner Bret Hedican are battling knee injuries, while Matt Cullen and defensemen David Tanabe are suffering from concussions.

Keith Aucoin collected a goal and an assist Saturday in Carolina's 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Hurricanes' sixth loss in their last eight games.

The Maple Leafs may not have similar injury concerns, but they still have just as many - if not more - problems.

Toronto has lost five straight contests and eight of its last nine games, and nobody's job is safe.

Rumors continue to spread regarding both captain Mats Sundin's and general manager John Ferguson Jr.'s future with the team.

Toronto squandered a two-goal lead in the third period Saturday, dropping a 3-2 decision to the San Jose Sharks.