Canes v Cats tonight

Since the "fair" and "just" hockey gods have decided not to do the Canes any favors, they will have to abandon the back door approach. At least for tonight, they will attempt to enter the front door to the conference title. They can do just that if they are able to defeat the visiting Panthers tonight.

Carolina has been dealing with serious injury problems, and has recently had great difficulty finding the back of the net.

Florida is a team just on the outside of the playoff bubble and has a lot to play for. They are also winners of 9 of their last 10 games. It will take a tremendous effort for the slumping Canes to get past the surging Cats.

Next week, the Canes will play the Caps three times. They are sure to lose them by 1-4, 0-6, and 2-5 margins. By then, they will again be asking for help from the "fair" and "just" hockey gods. The same hockey gods who have been exceedingly kind to the Canucks of late.

Is it too much to ask for the Canes to break out of their slump tonight? It is too much to ask for five goals? Yeah.... You're probably right.

Puck drop at 7:00.