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With Sundin in attendance, Rangers host Hurricanes

Dec 13, 2008 - 11:49 AM Carolina (13-12-4) at NY Rangers (19-11-2) 7:00 p.m. EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers may have more to gain than two points on Saturday.

The Rangers will attempt to impress highly sought after free-agent center Mats Sundin when they host the slumping Carolina Hurricanes.

Sundin, who notched 32 goals and 78 points with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, is looking to make a decision about the team he will play for by the end of the month.

The 37-year-old Sundin will be at Madison Square Garden and will have a meeting with New York general manager Glen Sather. The Rangers' struggling offense could definitely use Sundin, but would be hard-pressed to make room under the salary cap.

New York, which currently sits atop the Atlantic Division, does present Sundin a chance to win his first championship - especially if the Swede can provide an offensive boost.

It was the defense that let the Rangers down in Friday's 8-5 loss to the rival New Jersey Devils. New York had rallied from a four-goal deficit to force a tie with less than nine minutes to play only to see the Devils score three straight goals.

The Hurricanes are also struggling, having lost seven of their previous nine contests.

Carolina squandered a four-goal lead in the third period Thursday and lost to the Philadelphia Flyers, 6-5, in a shootout.