The set-up: The Carolina Hurricanes have lost six of their last eight contests to fall to 31-31-11 on the season, leaving them nine points behind the New Jersey Devils (82-to-73) for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with just nine games remaining. The Hurricanes have dug themselves into a quite a hole, as they welcome the 25-37-11 Arizona Coyotes to PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.on Thursday night. Arizona is seeking its third consecutive victory as it continues a six-game road trip that began with Wednesday's 4-1 triumph in Buffalo but note that the Coyotes' points 61 points are more than only the Canucks (59) and Sabres (58).

Arizona: Clayton Keller set up a pair of goals for the Coyotes to give him 35 assists and 55 points, breaking the club records for a rookie respectively set by Max Domi in 2015-16 and Peter Mueller in 2007-08. Keller has registered two goals and five assists during his six-game point streak, while Derek Stepan (49 points) has collected a goal and six assists over his last six contests for the Coyotes, who have moved two points ahead of Vancouver to escape the basement in the Western Conference. Luke Schenn was in the lineup Wednesday for the first time since March 10 due to the absence of fellow defenseman Jason Demers, who is out for the season with an upper-body injury.

Carolina: The Hurricanes' lost 7-3 loss on Tuesday to Edmonton, the team's fourth straight setback at home. Sebastian Aho recorded his club-high 26th goal and an assist in the defeat to extend his point streak to six games and pull even for the team lead in points (59) with fellow Finn Teuvo Teravainen (22 goals / 37 assists), who also scored. Carolina's playoff chances took another hit Wednesday as the team announced Victor Rask and defenseman Brett Pesce would miss the remainder of the season due to shoulder injuries. Rask has recorded 14 goals and 17 assists in 71 games while Pesce has netted three tallies and set up 16 others in 65 contests.

The pick: The Coyotes have already been eliminated from playoff contention and while teh Hurricanes have quite met the same fate, they're trending in that direction without a major turnaround. Scott Darling (12-18-7, 3.19 GAA & .885 SP) was in the net for Tuesday night's 7-3 home loss to Edmonton and all indications are that the Hurricanes will go back to Cam Ward (19-13-4, 2.78 GAA & .904 SP) for this game with Arizona (that's good news). Carolina has been nothing special at home (16-15-6) but Arizona is just 10-17-7 on the road, allowing 3.35 GPG. Make the Hurricanes an 8* play, as they aren't 'dead' just yet.