San Jose, CA (My Sportsbook) - The Carolina Hurricanes will attempt to halt their three- game losing streak this evening when they begin their stretch run against the San Jose Sharks at the Shark Tank.

Carolina has dropped three in a row and 11 of its last 12 games overall (1-8-0-2), fading from the playoff picture. The Hurricanes have fallen into fourth place in the Southeast Division, 15 points behind first place Washington.

Carolina went into the All-Star break on a low note after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jeff Heerema was the lone Hurricane to manage a goal against the Lightning's John Grahame.

"We need these points," Carolina defenseman Bret Hedican said. "We know we're a desperate team right now. Right now we're having a tough time and we've got to fight through it."

Hurricanes goaltender Kevin Weekes did his best, stopping 28 shots, but it wasn't enough in the losing cause. Weekes fell to 10-14-4 between the pipes on the season. the season.

Hurricanes LW Erik Cole left in the second period with a broken bone in his lower left leg after being checked by Tampa Bay's Dan Boyle. He is estimated to be out 2-to-3 weeks.

San Jose had its three-game winning streak halted just before the All-Star hiatus after a 4-3 loss to Anaheim. The Sharks reside in a two-way deadlock for third in the Pacific with Phoenix.

Owen Nolan registered a pair of goals and Mike Ricci added two assists in the losing effort. Nolan has a six-game goal scoring streak, during which he has tallied eight goals and one assist.

Sharks defenseman Dan McGillis, who has been experiencing headaches, now has a leg injury and missed his fourth straight game. McGillis is listed as day-to- day.

San Jose netminder Evgeni Nabokov struggled in the defeat, pushing aside just 18-of-22 shots. Nabokov fell to 15-18-6 on the year.

San Jose has won three of the last four meetings in this series. The Sharks have won two straight and three of their last four at home this series. San Jose has won two of its last three at home to improve to 10-12-4-1.

Carolina is winless (0-4-1-1) in its last six road tilts. The Hurricanes have fallen to just 8-14-1-2 on foreign ice.