St. Louis Blues (4-4-1) at Carolina Hurricanes (2-5-3), 7 p.m.

Sports Network | October 28, 2009

(Sports Network) - The free-falling Carolina Hurricanes will try to avoid their first seven-game losing streak in over six years when they welcome the St. Louis Blues for a battle at RBC Center.

The Hurricanes are in the midst of their longest slide since closing out the 2002-03 campaign with six consecutive setbacks. Earlier that season, Carolina lost seven in a row from January 25-February 11.

Carolina has recorded a point three times during its 0-3-3 slide and did so its last time out when it dropped Saturday's overtime decision in Minnesota. Cal Clutterbuck scored the game-winning goal 1:55 into overtime to lift the Wild past the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2, at Xcel Energy Center.

Joni Pitkanen had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Sergei Samsonov scored his first goal of the season, while Cam Ward turned aside 26-of-29 shots in defeat.

The setback kept Carolina winless (0-4-2) on the road this season. The Hurricanes are 2-1-1 as the host, but will be in Raleigh for just one game as they are scheduled to visit Philadelphia on Saturday.

The Hurricanes will be without forward Tuomo Ruutu again as he serves the second test of a three-game suspension for last Friday's illegal hit on Colorado's Darcy Tucker. Ruutu will be eligible to return for Sunday's game against San Jose.

The Blues have struggled lately as well, going 2-4-1 in their last seven games. St. Louis notched a 3-1 win over visiting Minnesota last Friday, but was then handed a decisive home loss the following night against Dallas. The Blues haven't won back-to-back games since sweeping Detroit in a season- opening two-game series in Stockholm, Sweden.

Marty Turco made 27 saves to lead the Stars to a 4-1 win over the Blues at Scottrade Center. Alex Pietrangelo had the lone goal for St. Louis, while Ty Conklin was charged with four goals on 31 shots.

"We lost our composure and took a few penalties," said Blues defenseman Darryl Sydor. "We just have to stay strong for 60 minutes and work on it."

The Blues could without defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo tonight after he suffered an upper-body injury Saturday against Dallas. Colaiacovo, who is questionable for tonight, was injured on a low hit by Stars centerman Steve Ott, who was suspended two games by the NHL for the incident.

St. Louis is 2-1-1 as the road club this year, but was dealt a 5-1 setback in Pittsburgh on October 20 in its last game away from the Gateway City.

Tonight marks the only meeting between the Blues and Hurricanes this year. Carolina won both matchups in 2008-09 and has taken four out of five overall in the series. St. Louis has also dropped three straight in Raleigh.