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Thrashers, Hurricanes lock up in Southeast battle

Feb 21, 2008 - 1:14 PM Atlanta (29-28-4) at Carolina (30-28-5) 7:00 pm EST

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) - The Carolina Hurricanes currently hold the edge at the moment, but the Southeast Division likely won't be decided until late in the season.

The Hurricanes try to stay on top when they host the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday.

Carolina has dropped its last two games but earned a point in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout setback against the Boston Bruins. The single point kept them two points north of the Washington Capitals (28-26-7) in the Southeast standings, three ahead of the Thrashers.

The highest scoring team in the division, the Hurricanes have managed a total of three goals in their last two games.

Carolina forced overtime on Tuesday with a pair of goals just 20 seconds apart in the final 1:03 of the third period, but could not convert on three shots in the extra session.

The Thrashers have had trouble finding the net of late, managing just 10 shots on goal in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak.

Top scorer Ilya Kovalchuk ranks second in the league with 40 goals, but has managed just four points in the last 11 games.

The teams have split four meetings this season, with Carolina earning a 4-3 win in the latest meeting on January 4.