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Hurricanes aim to keep pace in East, down Thrashers

Feb 28, 2009 - 11:16 AM Carolina (32-26-5) at Atlanta (22-34-6) 7:00 p.m. EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes would be well served to take care of the teams below them in the standings as they chase a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Saturday's meeting with the Atlanta Thrashers is a perfect example as the Hurricanes look to take the season series and win for the fifth time in their last six games overall.

Carolina currently sits tied for eighth place with Buffalo at 69 points courtesy of Thursday's 2-1 shootout win over the Sabres.

Anton Babchuk scored in the third period to tie the game, Jussi Jokinen netted the lone goal in the bonus format and Cam Ward stopped 36 shots while improving his shootout record to 2-2 on the season by not allowing a goal.

The Hurricanes are 15-7 this season against teams not currently in playoff position and have six games remaining against such competition.

After winning the first two contests against its Southeast Division rival, Atlanta has lost three straight to Carolina and will look to salvage a split of the season series.

The Thrashers have lost three of four overall (1-2-1) and are coming off a 4-3 loss at Washington on Thursday.

Todd White and captain Ilya Kovalchuk each recorded a goal and an assist but Atlanta, which owns the NHL's worst penalty kill at 74.5 percent, allowed three power-play goals in the loss.