(My Sportsbook) - The Atlanta Thrashers will try to close out the 2008 calendar year on a positive note when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes for a Southeast Division battle at RBC Center.

The Thrashers have dropped three straight games and have fallen into last place in the division with just 29 points on the year. Carolina is second in the Southeast with 39 points.

Atlanta has taken two of three from the Hurricanes this season, but Carolina has won six of eight and seven of the last 11 meetings overall. However, the Thrashers have won six of their last eight games in Raleigh, including a 5-2 decision there on November 9.

Atlanta, which has also lost four of its last five tilts, was able to pick up a point its last time out, as the Thrashers dropped an overtime decision in Toronto on Tuesday. Pavel Kubina's power-play tally 33 seconds into the extra session sent the Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over Atlanta at Air Canada Centre.

With Atlanta defenseman Tobias Enstrom off for interference, Kubina stepped into a slap shot from the inner edge of the left circle and ripped it home as Dominic Moore provided a screen.

Bryan Little, Jim Slater and Colby Armstrong tallied for the Thrashers, while Johan Hedberg made 43 saves in defeat.

Little has scored a goal in four straight games and has seven markers over that stretch. The 21-year-old centerman leads Atlanta with 19 goals on the season.

Atlanta is 6-9-3 as the visiting team this year and has lost five of its last eight road tests. The Thrashers will play their next two games at home, beginning with Friday's matchup with Vancouver and Sunday's encounter with Tampa Bay.

The Hurricanes have alternated losses and wins over their last five games, going 2-3-0 over that stretch.

Carolina's most-recent outing came Saturday against visiting Boston and the Bruins earned the victory. Michael Ryder scored the go-ahead goal with 6:14 left in the third period, as the Bruins topped the Hurricanes, 4-2.

Matt Cullen and Anton Babchuk scored for Carolina, while Cam Ward made 18 stops in net for the 'Canes.

The Hurricanes are just 6-8-3 over their last 17 games, but despite that mediocrity the club is still second in the Southeast Division. Washington currently has a healthy lead atop the division with 49 points.

Carolina is playing the middle portion of a three-game homestand tonight and is 9-9-1 as the host this season. The Hurricanes, who will complete the residency Friday against St. Louis, had won three straight on home ice prior to the loss to Boston.