The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are in virtually identical situations in the Eastern Conference playoff race, needing points with seven games left.
The Devils' push has gone better lately, and they seek their sixth win in nine contests Sunday in Raleigh.
New Jersey (36-31-8) has only one team between it and Philadelphia, which occupies the East's final wild-card spot, while Carolina (32-28-15) lurks just behind the Devils in the standings.
While New Jersey is 5-2-1 in its past eight games, the Hurricanes dropped to 1-2-4 in their last seven after a 4-3 overtime defeat to the New York Islanders on Saturday.