NHL Hockey 3/29/10
Carolina Hurricanes (31-35-5-4)-Atlanta Thrashers (33-30-6-6)

By Mark-Monday, March 29th 2010 7 PM EST
Line- Atlanta -125

Atlanta had lost two straight before running in these very same Hurricanes and took out their frustrations in a 4-0 drubbing Saturday. The Thrashers still have asperations of making the playoffs and every win is critical at this juncture and on paper, the lowly Canes appear like the perfect opponent to keep their playoff drive heading in the right direction.

Four different players scored for Atlanta which is always a good thing but over the last ten games it's been feast or famine in the goal department with the Thrashers averaging over four goals in their five wins and just a little over one in the loss's. Consistent scoring and goal tending from Johan Hedberg will will decide if Atlanta has a realistic shot at the playoffs.

Carolina has been eliminated from playoff contention but are in perfect position to way lay the Thrashers postseason dreams. To do that they'll have to find a way to get the puck past Hedberg but it wasn't for a lack of trying as the Hurricanes threw 19 third period shots at him. Their offense has been uneven over the last ten and have been shut out twice.

However, it's been their defense that has let them down more often than not as they have allowed three or more goals in seven of the last ten. Manny Legace has been the go to guy in the nets while Cam Ward continues on the IR with a back injury. Legace has got to make more stops and his sometimes porous defense has got to clear the puck and keep attackers from camping out in front of the net.

Carolina is 17-35 in the last 52 road games, 1-4 in the past 5 versus a team with a losing record and 0-4 in their last 4 in the 2nd game of a home and home situation. Atlanta is 5-2 in the last 7 overall, 1-6 in the past 7 versus a team with a losing record and 1-4 in their past 5 in the 2nd game of a home and home situation.

Neither team has had much success in home and home games but that's going to change for at least one night. Atlanta has handed Carolina three defeats on the their home ice but the Canes have beaten the Thrashers on the road so they have reason to believe winning is not out of the question. Atlanta needs every win they can muster with the season winding down and their playoff life in the balance. I'm going with the team that's really in a do or die situation.