Hurricanes  3    Panthers  6

Carolina Hurricanes (8-19-6) at Florida Panthers (14-14-7), 7:30 p.m.

Sports Network | December 18, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Florida Panthers will try to match their longest winning streak of the season when they host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at BankAtlantic Center in the opener of a home-and-home series between Southeast Division foes.

The Panthers, who will start a three-game road trip with Saturday's stop in Carolina, have won three straight games twice this year, the last occurrence taking place from November 18-21.

Florida has recorded a point in four straight games (3-0-1) and has outscored its opponents by an 11-4 margin in the last two tilts. After losing an overtime contest against Pittsburgh last weekend, the Panthers posted Monday's 7-1 road win over the New York Islanders and then edged visiting Atlanta, 4-3, on Wednesday.

Michael Frolik scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period, as the Panthers wasted a three-goal advantage to Atlanta but held on for the close win.

Stephen Weiss opened the game's scoring and helped set up the game-winner, while Radek Dvorak and Bryan McCabe also scored for the Panthers. Nathan Horton collected two assists and Tomas Vokoun earned the victory with a 20- save performance.

Although Florida held a 3-1 lead after two periods it appeared Wednesday's contest was headed for overtime late in regulation. That is until Weiss fired a backhander from the slot and Frolik roofed the rebound with 1:21 remaining.

"I think we deserved to win tonight. Minus that lapse in the third I thought we played better, played well, didn't turn the puck over too much," said McCabe.

The Hurricanes and Panthers have split two meetings this season with each team winning a game on home ice. Florida ended a two-game slide in the series the last time the clubs battled on November 4 in Sunrise. Carolina has lost four of its last six road games in the series.

Carolina ended a three-game losing streak last time out, as it notched a 5-3 win over visiting Dallas on Wednesday. Tuomo Ruutu's first career hat trick led the Hurricanes to the 5-3 decision at RBC Center. It was the third win in six games for Carolina this month after it managed just three victories in all of November.

Eric Staal had a goal and two assists while Jussi Jokinen posted a goal and a helper for the Hurricanes.

Cam Ward earned his first win since October 9 behind 24 saves. It was Ward's third start since returning from a month-long absence after being cut on the leg by Columbus forward Rick Nash's skate on November 7.

Carolina defensemen Tim Gleason is expected to miss tonight with concussion- like symptoms after sitting out Wednesday's game. Fellow blueliner Niclas Wallin, who has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury, is questionable for this evening's tilt.

The Hurricanes are just 1-12-4 as the visiting team this season, while Florida is 5-6-5 as the host.