The Carolina Hurricanes haven't been eliminated from playoff contention, but they're trending in that direction without a major turnaround.
They'll be facing a team Thursday night that already has met the fate of being elimination from playoff contention.
The Arizona Coyotes can put the Hurricanes in a deeper hole if they can pull out a road victory at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.
"Where we are stinks," said Carolina center Jordan Staal said. "We have to come to work. We can't just not work. ... It's no fun to let each other down like that.