Eye on the Hurricanes

FLORIDA AT CAROLINA, 7 P.M. TODAY

WHERE: RBC Center, Raleigh TV: FSN Radio: WWMY-102.9 Tickets: 919-834-4000

BURNING QUESTION

Six days after the Florida Panthers accused Eric Staal and the Hurricanes of diving, will there be any bad blood spicing up this regular-season finale between two non-playoff teams?

CAROLINA

Accentuating the positive

Winger Ray Whitney (two goals, one assist) and center Rod Brind'Amour (two goals and two assists) each entered Friday night with two-game scoring streaks.

Before Friday, Carolina's penalty-kill unit had allowed just six power-play goals in the previous 20 games, killing 74 of 79 power play opportunities.

The Hurricanes are 5-8-1 in the second of back-to-back games this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ERIC STAAL, C

Staal drew a tripping penalty just 66 seconds into overtime to help clinch Sunday's comeback win over the Panthers.

Staal has four assists this year against Florida, but in eight games last season, Staal led all scorers with 11 points (four goals, seven assists).

FLORIDA

Postseason plans for Van Ryn

Defenseman Mike Van Ryn plans to have surgery on his left wrist shortly after the season's end.

Florida has an 11-game winless streak going at the RBC Center. Its last win there came on Dec. 6, 2002, and they have earned only one point there since, in an Oct. 13, 2003 tie.

The Panthers are 2-9-0 in the second of back-to-back games this season.

OLLI JOKINEN, C

Jokinen has 28 points in 36 career games against Carolina, including five goals and seven assists in seven games this season and 22 points in his past 15 games against Carolina. The Canes were able to keep him off the scoresheet in only one meeting this season, on March 13.