Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - The Carolina Hurricanes try to put the brakes on a five- game winless string this evening and get out of the NHL's cellar when they skate into Atlanta to face the Thrashers at Philips Arena.

With 61 points, the Hurricanes are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the worst mark in the league and are just two behind the Thrashers and Buffalo Sabres.

Carolina comes into tonight's contest on the heels of a 3-3 tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Jeff O'Neill scored with 33 seconds left in the third period to lift the Canes to the draw. O'Neill also posted an assist, while Thomas Kurka and Aaron Ward added markers for Carolina, which is 0-3-2 in its last five.

O'Neill, who has 10 points over his last 10 games (6g, 4a), has scored at least 30 goals for three straight seasons. The right wing tallied a career- high 41 goals in 2000-01 and 31 last season.

The Hurricanes, who are 2-11-2 in Wednesday games this season, are just 2-13-3-2 in their last 20 games away from home and 10-23-3-2 on the road this season.

Atlanta, meanwhile, is also just playing out the string and enters Wednesday's battle following Monday's 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Kovalchuk posted a goal and an assist for the Thrashers, who have dropped three of their last four games (1-3).

Kovalchuk's tally tied him with Bob Carpenter for sixth on the NHL's career list for goals before the age of 20, with 64. He also moved into 12th place for points before 20, with 112. for points before 20, with 112.

Kovalchuk, who leads Atlanta with 35 tallies, has five goals and three assists in four games against Carolina this season.

Atlanta has dropped five of its last seven on home ice and is 13-19-3-3 at Philips this season.

Carolina, which is 2-1-1 this season against the Thrashers, is 14-1-4 all-time against Atlanta. Six of the last eight matchups in this series have gone to overtime, including four of the last five in Dixie.