EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Devils
try to avoid a season-high fourth straight loss Saturday
afternoon when they host the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Devils have not lost four in a row since November 13-18,
2001, when they had three regulation defeats and one in
overtime. They haven't had four straight regulation losses
since a five-game skid from November 4-14, 2000.
Defenseman Scott Stevens has not played since January 7 due to a
concussion. Without their captain, the Devils have gone 8-7-1.
New Jersey has lost four of its last six games, including
Wednesday's 3-1 home loss to the rival New York Rangers.
The Devils have fallen behind 3-0 in each of their last three
games and are nine points behind first-place Philadelphia in the
Atlantic Division. They also have dropped to sixth place in
the Eastern Conference, four points behind Ottawa and three
ahead of Montreal.
Carolina is 0-3-2 in five games since a 2-0 win at Toronto on
January 27.
The Hurricanes are coming off Thursday's 3-3 tie at home vs.
Washington. Marty Murray and defenseman Sean Hill scored before
Pavel Brendl netted the equalizer with 5:03 remaining.
Carolina will be without Justin Williams. He is expected to
miss six weeks after suffering a broken left wrist on Thursday.
The Devils have split their last six contests with the
Hurricanes, who beat New Jersey in six games in the 2002 Eastern
Conference quarterfinals.
