Muller tries to keep 'Canes focused during lull

--The Hurricanes are in a strange stretch of the schedule with only three games in a 12-day stretch. So this presents another challenge before they return to a busier part of the schedule. "A couple of days off and guys kept their focus," Coach Kirk Muller said, obviously pleased with the general approach.

-- Rod Brind'Amour's role as an assistant coach is a bit unconventional. The former team captain is in his first season in this position. But he isn't with the Hurricanes all the time, rarely expected to be on the road trips with the team. For home games, he watches from above in the press-box area rather than from behind the bench except for a couple of instances.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're playing the same way. We're trying to get ourselves back in the fight and push hard here down the stretch." -- C Eric Staal on the Hurricanes encountering other teams with desperate attitudes.

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