Big game tonite for 'Canes

Much like the Rangers, who took care of business at home against a weaker division opponent (Flyers) last night, the Hurricanes, clinging to 8th spot in Eastern Conference playoff, need to dispose of the Capitals tonight.

Caps are on the 2nd night of back-to-back games, while 'Canes are rested. And the Caps lost last night, badly, to Sabres. So there's no excuse not to put up a "We're the defending Cup champs and we're not losing down the stretch at home'' type of game.

Rangers shut out the Flyers, 5-0, a game whose tone was set early with a Colton Orr-Todd Fedorryk fistfight in which the Rangers' Orr downed his opponent with one vicious overhead right. Down and out to the hospital. I don't think I've ever seen a Rangers player do that before.

In any event, if Montreal, which is at Boston, loses, it will give the 'Canes a little bit of air, though not too much. Maple Leafs are right there, too. They don't play til tomorrow, at Buffalo.

Helluva stretch race in the east.

Meanwhile, the only race of note in the West, Colorado chasing Calgary, is getting closer. Avs have the lead down to 4 points; both teams have 9 games left.