Hurricanes at Panthers
The Florida Panthers look to remain in playoff contention and complete a sweep of the three-game season series when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday in the opener of their regular season-ending five-game homestand. Florida is clinging to the hope of catching Boston for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, as it trails the Bruins by six points with five games remaining.
The Panthers, who also have Ottawa sandwiched between themselves and the Bruins in the standings, were dealt a crushing blow when they dropped a 3-2 decision in Boston on Tuesday. Florida, which was on a 4-1-1 run before that loss, have yet to allow a goal in the season series against Carolina. Roberto Luongo and Al Montoya combined for a 33-save shutout at home on Nov. 26 before Dan Ellis turned aside 27 shots in a 2-0 triumph in Raleigh, N.C. on March 14. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's matchup on a two-game slide as they lost to Boston at home in overtime on Sunday before dropping a 4-2 decision in Washington two nights later.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, FSN Florida
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (28-37-11): Carolina took a step toward its future Wednesday, agreeing to terms with defenseman Roland McKeown on a three-year contract. The 19-year-old, who was acquired from Los Angeles in February after being selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2014 draft, registered 32 points in 65 games with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League this season. Captain Eric Staal has tallied in three of his last four games and collected seven points in his last five contests.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (35-27-15): Florida's road to a postseason berth will not be an easy one. In addition to needing Boston and Ottawa to lose, the Panthers follow their game versus Carolina with matchups against Tampa Bay and Montreal - who both have clinched playoff spots. The club has a showdown with the Bruins on April 9 that it hopes is still meaningful before it concludes its homestand - and regular season - versus New Jersey two nights later.
OVERTIME
1. Panthers C Brandon Pirri has scored 21 goals in 44 games this season after recording 13 in his first 56 NHL contests.
2. Carolina did not receive a penalty in Tuesday's game, marking the fourth time this season it stayed out of the box.
3. Florida RW Jaromir Jagr has collected 12 points in 15 contests since being acquired from New Jersey but had his four-game streak snapped in the loss at Boston.