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Hurricanes look to stay hot against division-rival Panthers

Jan 8, 2009 - 11:34 AM Carolina (21-15-5) at Florida (18-16-6) 7:30 p.m. EST

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes will spend most of the rest of the month on the road. On Tuesday, they get things started against one of their key division rivals.

Riding a four-game winning streak, the Hurricanes open up a stretch featuring seven of eight games on the road as they head south to take on the Florida Panthers.

Things will only get tougher, as they proceed to go into enemy territory against some of the top Eastern Conference foes - including Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers.

For now, the 'Canes can focus on the Panthers, their Southeast Division foe that they've defeated two of three times this season. Overall, they haven't lost since December 27, rattling off four straight wins - including three in a row by one-goal margins. On Monday, they jumped to a 3-0 lead before surrendering a pair of late third-period goals, ultimately surviving, 3-2.

Cam Ward made 26 stops in the victory.

The Panthers, who lost their last three games of 2008, have gotten off to a better start in 2009. They have won two of their last three, with their only loss coming in a 6-5 shootout against Montreal on January 4. Two nights later, Stephen Weiss, Ville Peltonen and Gregory Campbell registered a goal and an assist apiece to lead the way in a 4-2 triumph over Toronto.