FanHouse Cory Stillman

Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2: With the Montreal Canadiens in complete meltdown mode, the Florida Panthers entered Monday's game against Carolina with an opportunity to take over the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference with a win. Instead, the Panthers failed to win for the seventh time in their past nine games, dropping a 3-2 decision in overtime.

With the Panthers trailing, 2-1, late in the third period, Cory Stillman scored on a 5-on-3 advantage, sending the game to overtime. Just 1:37 into the extra period, Carolina's Ray Whitney one-timed a shot behind Tomas Vokoun for the game-winner.

Since the season began, it's pretty much been assumed that Florida Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester would be the ultimate prize at this year's trade deadline. A 25-year-old defenseman just beginning to hit his prime, Bouwmeester is playing out the final year of his contract on a team that's been a perenial bottom-feeder in the Eastern Conference.

As it turns out, the Panthers are a pretty good hockey team, currently in a four-way battle for the final two playoff spots in the conference. It's unlikely that Bouwmeester is going to re-sign in Florida, leaving general manager Jacques Martin with quite a dilemma: does he keep Bouwmeester in an effort to make the playoffs, knowing he's probably going to lose him after the season? Or does he attempt to cash in his chips and deal his most marketable player? It should be a no-brainer.

It was one year ago Tuesday that we saw Richard Zednik involved in a horrific accident on the ice. The blade of teammate Olli Jokinen's skate cut Zednik's neck, severing his carotid artery. It was a frightening scene (this video is the least disgusting of the ones I could find, but it could still be disturbing for some of you). Obviously, Zednik is okay now, as he played in his 42nd game of the season Tuesday. While Zednik has tried not to think about last year's scare, it's hard not to notice what he was able to do on the one-year anniversary Tuesday, as the Panthers hosted Toronto.

The game of the night -- or so we thought -- was that monster matchup in Detroit, between the defending Stanley Cup champions, and the team that, thus far, has been the best team in the NHL this season. On paper, it looked like it was going to be an epic tilt. Possible Western Conference Finals preview, Mike Babcock vs. Todd Mclellan, teacher vs. student, etc. etc. etc. Of course, it was the second time they faced off this year, but, hey, it still looked like it was going to be awesome.

This, of course, is why the games aren't played on paper, as the Red Wings disposed of San Jose quite easily in a 6-0 romp at Joe Louis Arena. It's the Sharks' second straight loss, and the first game they've dropped in regulation in over a month.

"Attention Eastern Conference contenders and pretenders... we've got a floater in the pool."

Okay, so the Carolina Hurricanes aren't quite dead and/or gone yet, but when you're a bubble club, three consecutive losses at this time of year is tantamount to closing shop for the season.

The defending champs now have four games left, sit in 11th in the conference, and even if they run the table, will finish with 92 points. And unless the rest of their bubble-club friends are going to take to laying eggs against the likes of the Flyers, that's not going to do it.

The Hurricanes' latest bungle came Friday night at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a club they could have actually caught in the standings with a win. Instead, the Lightning - who have had their own egg-laying fiascoes lately, most of which have begun and ended in the crease - took the game 4-2 and are comfortably looking like they'll make good on coach John Tortellini's playoff guarantee.

So for the first time since, well, ever it's looking more and more plausible that we won't have either of the previous finalists in the postseason this year - not that having the Hurricanes squeak in would have aided in our dart-aided brackets any. The fact is, Carolina hasn't resembled the team that won the Stanley Cup last season at all this year - something that's tough to chalk up simply to the three losses (Martin Gerber, Aaron Ward, Matt Cullen) to free agency.

Rather, it's been the cast that's stayed that has let this team down, a group that starts with Eric Staal. A super sophomore last season with 45 goals and 100 points, he's on pace to barely crack the 30/70 marks this year and is a minus-six.

Last season saw Carolina with six players on the cusp of posting a point a game; this year, only Ray Whitney and Rod Brind'Amour have come close.

But the biggest hole has been on defence, where a late-season injury to Bret Hedican exposed just how limp the blueline has been this season. Frantisek Kaberle has played well since returning from a serious shoulder injury of his own, but when your top-scoring blueliner is Mike Commodore with 27 points on the season, there's a problem. Add in the fact that Cory Stillman has had just a terrible half season and Cam Ward's struggles and, well, those are the ingredients for a playoff miss.

The 'Canes have to now run the table and cross their fingers - which might not be a bad plan given how the Eastern Conference contenders have been dropping games as of late.

With the Islanders all but out of it without starting netminder Rick DiPietro and Carolina on its last legs, it's looking more and more like the conference's eighth spot is going to come down to the second to last night of the season when the Maple Leafs host the Canadiens.

And by that point a few more teams should be officially dead in the water.