Hurricanes vying for top seed in East with rising Devils on tap

The Carolina Hurricanes are comfortably in first place in the Metropolitan Division and battling for the top spot in the Eastern Conference as they get ready to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

After winning their previous three, the Hurricanes lost 5-2 to the host Montreal Canadiens in their most recent game on Tuesday night. They entered Friday tied atop the conference with the Buffalo Sabres, who face the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.

Carolina blew a 2-0 lead early in the first period against Montreal.