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Hurricanes look to improve playoff position

Mar 19, 2008 - 11:56 AM Carolina (39-30-5) at Atlanta (31-36-8) 7:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Carolina Hurricanes are holding down the top spot in the Southeast Division and have a good shot at padding their lead Wednesday when they visit the struggling Atlanta Thrashers.

While the Hurricanes enter this game with a 9-2-1 mark in their last dozen games, the Thrashers are freefalling with a 2-9-4 record since February 15.

Carolina owns a three-point lead over hard-charging Washington (36-30-8) in the Southeast. The division winner is guaranteed at least the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, while the second place club runs the risk of missing the playoffs.

Center Eric Staal, left wing Ray Whitney and defenseman Frantisek Kaberle have combined for eight goals and 16 assists against the Thrashers this season. However, Whitney is out for at least two weeks due to a leg injury.

Goaltender Cam Ward is 3-1-0 with a 3.17 goals-against average against Atlanta.

Atlanta left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, center Todd White and right wing Mark Recchi have combined for eight goals and 16 assists versus Carolina and goaltender Johan Hedberg is 2-0-0 with a 2.39 GAA against the division foe.