RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have been playing their best hockey of the season during the past week and theyre likely to need more of that when they take on the NHLs top team.The Montreal Canadiens visit PNC Arena on Friday night.It doesnt change for us, Carolina coach Bill Peters said. Its about what we do.Yet while the Hurricanes have been on a brief uptick to move out of the Eastern Conference basement, the Canadiens have encountered their first sustained glitches of the season.Montreal has failed to win its last two games, marking the first time this year it has gone that long without a victory. The Canadiens are coming off Tuesday nights 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Florida Panthers.We need to win battles for the puck and protect the pick, said Canadiens coach Michel Therrien, whose Montreal team has a league-best 13-2-2 record.With back-to-back wins against Washington and San Jose, the Hurricanes have been particularly successful on defense. Theyve given up one goal across the last two games, including posting their first shutout of the season by blanking San Jose 1-0.Its starting to come together, Peters said. We want chemistry and we want continuity. We have an identity were trying to get to. I like the direction were headed.Peters said the Hurricanes (5-6-4) have shown good discipline and that has allowed the team to flourish in several areas.Its a combination of a lot of different things that have been working for the lines, Peters said. The execution has been very high. ... Weve got to get seconds and thirds (attempts on goal).The Hurricanes, who are 15-for-15 on penalty kills across the last seven games, have dominated at times with faceoffs, giving them extra possessions.Faceoff execution, not only winning it but doing something with it, Peters said.Fridays game will mark the fourth in a five-game homestand for Carolina.We need to get some points in the bank, Peters said. This is a big homestand for us and we have two left.The Canadiens are playing their only road game during a five-game stretch.Montreal forward Alexander Radulov will miss the Carolina game because of illness, meaning hell skip his second game in a row.The goalie matchup is listed as Montreals Al Montoya and Carolinas Cam Ward.He has made the big saves at the big moments, Peters said of Ward. Were better in front and hes better.Ward credited teammates for tying up sticks and limiting rebounds.You just try to keep a quiet mind, Ward said. Youve got to build some momentum. These last two games have been our best two games of the year. We did it in real good fashion. ... Its not going to get any easier.The Hurricanes will need to keep watch on Montreal center Alex Galchenyuk, who holds a six-game points streak. To Therrien, that kind of production seems just about right.Hes working hard and hes getting his reward for that, Therrien said. His positioning (has been good). ... Thats a process. Under Armour Shoes China . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Discount Under Armour Shoes . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. http://www.cheapshoesunderarmour.com/ .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Cheap Under Armour Shoes Online .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Wholesale Under Armour Shoes . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. ATLANTA -- Willie Clayton scored 11 points and had 15 rebounds and Georgia State beat Division-II Georgia Southwestern 83-52 on Saturday to give Ron Hunter a coaching milestone.Hunter won his 108th game at Georgia State, the most in school history, in his sixth season and became the seventh Division-I coach to become the all-time wins leader at multiple schools. Hunter spent 17 years at IUPUI where he won 274 games.Clayton put together his 19th career double-double. Devin Mitchell, with four 3-pointers, added 13 points and Malik Benlevi 12 for the Panthers (5-3), winners of four of their last five.dddddddddddd.Georgia State led 39-22 at halftime then began the second half on a 25-9 run. The Panthers shot 50 percent, were 11 of 24 from the arc, had a 43-22 rebounding advantage and turned 18 turnovers, including 10 steals, into 24 points.Brandon Price and Tyrone Wooten scored 14 points each for the Hurricanes (1-5). ' ' '