WHERE: RBC Center, Raleigh RADIO: WCMC-99.9 TICKETS: (919) 834-4000

BURNING QUESTION

Will the Canes play tonight the way they did in the first 57 minutes of regulation Tuesday or the way they played in the final two minutes and change?

CAROLINA

Canes return after a day off

The Hurricanes, who took the day off after Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins, are 3-1-1 in their past five games. ... Eric Staal has six points in his past four games. He needs one goal for his third career 30-goal season. ... Carolina is 2-1-1 against the Thrashers. Four meetings remain on the schedule. ... Tuesday was the third time this season the Canes have had three fights in a game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RAY WHITNEY, LW

Whitney has six points in the past three games he has played -- he missed Monday's loss at the New Jersey Devils with a groin injury -- after scoring one goal and assisting on the other in Carolina's comeback with 63 seconds to play Tuesday. He leads the Hurricanes with 56 points.

ATLANTA

Thrashers arrive after a rest

Off since a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday, the Thrashers are 5-3-1 since the All-Star break and three points behind Carolina in the Southeast Division. The Thrashers were outshot 49-10 in the loss to the Islanders, a franchise record for fewest shots. ... Ilya Kovalchuk is second in the NHL with 40 goals, eight behind Alex Ovechkin. ... This is the third game in a five-game road trip.

MARIAN HOSSA, RW

With Hossa unable to agree on a contract extension with the Thrashers, the 29-year-old has become the NHL's most-sought commodity heading into Tuesday's trade deadline. Hossa has 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists) in 58 games this season, with six of those coming in four games against Carolina.

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