At the Rink: Panthers at Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Florida Panthers continue their push toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Panthers began the day trailing the Boston Bruins by six points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

With five points in their past three games, Florida has tried to keep pace despite the loss of both NHL goaltenders, Roberto Luongo and Al Montoya, to injuries. Veteran goaltender Dan Ellis has helped the Panthers earn five points in three games since his March 4 recall from the San Antonio Rampage. Ellis, who played for the Hurricanes in 2012-13, doesn't feel any particular pressure shouldering the duties in goal after 36 games in the American Hockey League.

"Hockey is hockey from one league to the next," said Ellis who has played 207 NHL games. "When you play a lot of games, you get a chance to get into a bit of rhythm. I knew the team's playoff position here, but I wasn't going to put the whole team's fate on my back. We win as a team, we lose as a team. I just have to play my best to give them a chance to win."

Luongo did take the ice near the end of the morning skate, and while his return appears to be close, there is no timetable. Florida coach Gerard Gallant was careful not to promote the idea of a possible return Sunday at the New York Rangers.

"We're going to give him time," Gallant said. "Whenever he's ready to play, we're going to put him in there. We don't want to force him to go in there when he's not ready."

Gallant said he might make additional lineup changes before game time, based on the health of the team after the morning skate. Several players have been battling illness.

The Hurricanes, who have lost four out of five, are completing a five-game home stand. With the playoffs no longer a realistic goal, Carolina expects to have its hands full against the Panthers. Eric Staal noted the challenge of facing 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr, who has a goal and four assists in five games since joining the Panthers.

"The biggest thing I've grown to respect in his game is the puck protection and his release," Staal said. "As a young guy growing up, there's a few guys you watch and wonder why they score so many goals, and a lot of it has to do with how quickly they get it off. He does that as good or better than anybody ever in the game."

Here are the projected starting lineups:

PANTHERS

Jonathan Huberdeau - Aleksander Barkov - Jaromir Jagr

Jussi Jokinen - Nick Bjugstad - Brad Boyes

Brandon Pirri - Vincent Trocheck - Jimmy Hayes

Derek MacKenzie - Dave Bolland - Scottie Upshall

Brian Campbell - Aaron Ekblad

Willie Mitchell - Erik Gudbranson

Dmitry Kulikov - Steven Kampfer

Dan Ellis

Sam Brittain

Scratched: Shawn Thornton, Tomas Kopecky, Alex Petrovic

Injured: Roberto Luongo (shoulder), Al Montoya (groin)

HURRICANES

Eric Staal - Jordan Staal - Elias Lindholm

Chris Terry - Victor Rask - Andrej Nestrasil

Jeff Skinner - Riley Nash - Alexander Semin

Brad Malone - Jay McClement - Nathan Gerbe

Ron Hainsey - Justin Faulk

Michal Jordan - Rasmus Rissanen

John-Michael Liles - Brett Bellemore

Cam Ward

Anton Khudobin

Scratches: Ryan Murphy, Patrick Dwyer

Injuries: Jack Hillen (concussion)

Status report: Murphy took the morning skate, but Hurricanes coach Bill Peters ruled him out. Murphy played through his illness Thursday against the Dallas Stars, but he told Peters he did not feel strong enough after the morning skate.

Florida defenseman Steven Kampfer has signed a two-year contract extension. Kampfer, who was recalled from San Antonio on Feb. 5, has three points in 18 games with the Panthers.

Who's hot: Huberdeau has two goals and two assists in the past three games...Bjugstad has a goal in each of the past two games...Jokinen has an assist in three straight games...Rask has two goals and four points in the past two games.