Hurricanes, Panthers square off at RBC Center

A pair of teams on quests to get back to the playoffs will begin their 2008-09 seasons against each other tonight, as the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Florida Panthers for a Southeast Division battle at the RBC Center. The Hurricanes won the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup title in 2006, but have missed the postseason in two straight years following that triumph, making the club just the second team in NHL history to achieve the dubious distinction. On the other hand, Florida has the longest current postseason drought in the NHL, having last made the tournament in 2000. Injuries were a big problem for the Hurricanes last season and reared their ugly heads once again, this time before the campaign even started. The Hurricanes will be without speedy winger Justin Williams for the next four-to- six months and forward Scott... [read full story]