For the Carolina Hurricanes, the danger with eight games left in the regular season would be to get too far ahead of themselves.
To start thinking about the Stanley Cup playoffs. To start guessing which team they might play in the first round and how they would match up.
But tonight's game against the Florida Panthers should take care of that potential problem.
If there is a team that has made the Canes look bad this season, it's the Panthers. In fact, the last time Carolina played Florida at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. -- on Jan. 8 -- the Panthers' 3-2 victory was the start of a five-game losing tailspin for the Canes.
"At this point in the season and it has been that way for us the last month, every game gets bigger and bigger," Canes coach Paul Maurice said Sunday. "And this will be a big game for us. We will see their best game.
"We have not played well the last few times we've played them. We'll need to be very, very good."
The Canes, 7-1-2 in their past 10 games, were sixth in the Eastern Conference after a solid 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday at home. Rod Brind'Amour, Joni Pitkanen, Anton Babchuk and Joe Corvo had goals as the Canes won their eighth straight home game.
Carolina scored three times in the third period to finish the season series 3-3 against its Southeast Division rival -- and possible first-round playoff opponent.
"We like the way we've been playing against them," the Canes' Eric Staal said. "We've got a good group that matches up against them pretty good."
The Panthers, on the other hand, were losing 3-1 at home Saturday to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Florida (4-4-2 in its last 10) remained ninth in the Eastern Conference, a point out of playoff position and five points behind the Canes before Sunday's games.
"The game [tonight] is an opportunity to further distance ourselves from the ninth-place team," Maurice said. "That's what we hope to do. At the same time, you can survive it if you lose."
The Canes will be without veteran center Matt Cullen, who suffered a lower-body injury against the Caps and is being held out of tonight's game. Cullen had two goals and an assist Friday in the 5-4 comeback win over the New York Islanders and has 30 points in his last 30 games.
"He played through the injury [Saturday] but was not feeling great after the game," Maurice said. "Our thinking is if we keep him out, he'll feel better for Wednesday."
The Canes face the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night at RBC Center.
Maurice said either Brind'Amour or Jussi Jokinen would move into Cullen's spot on the second line with wingers Chad LaRose and Ray Whitney. The line accounted for four goals and four assists against the Islanders, and LaRose and Whitney each had assists against the Caps.
Cam Ward made 31 saves against the Caps and was named the game's first star. He will be in goal for the 22nd straight game tonight and probably will start all the rest.
No problem, Ward said.
"I feel great," he said. "This is when you want to be in net. This is the best time of the year."
To start thinking about the Stanley Cup playoffs. To start guessing which team they might play in the first round and how they would match up.
But tonight's game against the Florida Panthers should take care of that potential problem.
If there is a team that has made the Canes look bad this season, it's the Panthers. In fact, the last time Carolina played Florida at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. -- on Jan. 8 -- the Panthers' 3-2 victory was the start of a five-game losing tailspin for the Canes.
"At this point in the season and it has been that way for us the last month, every game gets bigger and bigger," Canes coach Paul Maurice said Sunday. "And this will be a big game for us. We will see their best game.
"We have not played well the last few times we've played them. We'll need to be very, very good."
The Canes, 7-1-2 in their past 10 games, were sixth in the Eastern Conference after a solid 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday at home. Rod Brind'Amour, Joni Pitkanen, Anton Babchuk and Joe Corvo had goals as the Canes won their eighth straight home game.
Carolina scored three times in the third period to finish the season series 3-3 against its Southeast Division rival -- and possible first-round playoff opponent.
"We like the way we've been playing against them," the Canes' Eric Staal said. "We've got a good group that matches up against them pretty good."
The Panthers, on the other hand, were losing 3-1 at home Saturday to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Florida (4-4-2 in its last 10) remained ninth in the Eastern Conference, a point out of playoff position and five points behind the Canes before Sunday's games.
"The game [tonight] is an opportunity to further distance ourselves from the ninth-place team," Maurice said. "That's what we hope to do. At the same time, you can survive it if you lose."
The Canes will be without veteran center Matt Cullen, who suffered a lower-body injury against the Caps and is being held out of tonight's game. Cullen had two goals and an assist Friday in the 5-4 comeback win over the New York Islanders and has 30 points in his last 30 games.
"He played through the injury [Saturday] but was not feeling great after the game," Maurice said. "Our thinking is if we keep him out, he'll feel better for Wednesday."
The Canes face the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night at RBC Center.
Maurice said either Brind'Amour or Jussi Jokinen would move into Cullen's spot on the second line with wingers Chad LaRose and Ray Whitney. The line accounted for four goals and four assists against the Islanders, and LaRose and Whitney each had assists against the Caps.
Cam Ward made 31 saves against the Caps and was named the game's first star. He will be in goal for the 22nd straight game tonight and probably will start all the rest.
No problem, Ward said.
"I feel great," he said. "This is when you want to be in net. This is the best time of the year."
