The Hurricanes realize it will be a struggle to the finish line.
For a team still clinging to hopes that it can pull itself up and make a difference in the Eastern Conference standings, there's little room for error. But there is opportunity.
The schedule calls for games in rapid fire.
"It's March and it's 16 games (this month)," coach Kirk Muller said. "It's going to be a marathon and a tough battle every night, so we'll see who's ready to dig down in the trenches. It's going to tell a lot about our hockey club."
The Hurricanes didn't do themselves any favors with Wednesday night's 3-2 overtime loss at Buffalo.
That puts even more importance on Saturday night's visit to Tampa Bay, which secured an overtime victory against the Hurricanes a week earlier.
NOTES, QUOTES
-D Jay Harrison was the first defenseman on the team to reach the eight-goal mark this season.
It was surprising that he would be the leader in goals among defensemen. D Justin Faulk tied Harrison for team-leading honors among defenseman by scoring the overtime winner Tuesday night at Washington.
-The Hurricanes are bound to try different players on C Eric Staal's line because sometimes that variety works best, coach Kirk Muller said.
Staal eats up so much ice time and, in his coach's mind, is a workhorse on the top line that the player can benefit from having some different linemates from time to time.
RW Anthony Stewart and RW Jerome Samson have spent time there recently, though LW Jiri Tlusty has been a staple on Staal's left for several weeks.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We have to stay up and keep battling away." -- coach Kirk Muller on the team's mindset and what seems part of his motivation of keeping hope alive of making a run toward the playoffs.
