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(Sports Network) - The Boston Bruins will fight to hold onto their playoff spot when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at RBC Center.

The Bruins are currently eighth in the East with 72 points and are just one point ahead of the New York Rangers for the conference's final postseason berth. The Rangers are also in action tonight, hosting the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.

Boston was dealt its fourth loss in five games Monday night and failed to pick up a point in its loss at New Jersey. Zach Parise scored the eventual game- winner late in the first period, as the Devils scored three times in the first and then held on to beat the Bruins, 3-2, at Prudential Center.

Blake Wheeler finished with a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who fell to 2-3-1 on a seven-game road trip that ends tonight. Patrice Bergeron also scored for Boston.

Tim Thomas allowed three goals on 12 shots in the first period before being pulled for Tuukka Rask, who turned aside all 16 shots he faced.

"We dug ourselves a hole in the first period," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "I thought we played better from the second period on."

The Bruins are 16-13-6 as the visiting team this season. Boston will play its next two games on home ice, including an important matchup against the Rangers on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes come into tonight with their playoff hopes fading. Carolina, which made it to the conference finals last spring, is currently 14th in the East and eight points behind Boston.

The Hurricanes have dropped two of their last three games and are coming off Saturday's shutout loss to visiting Phoenix. Ilya Bryzgalov made 29 saves to record his NHL-leading eighth shutout, and the Coyotes routed Carolina, 4-0, at RBC Center.

Justin Peters allowed all four goals on only 20 shots in the defeat -- just the third setback in the last 12 games for Carolina.

Carolina, which will complete a four-game homestand Thursday against Washington, is 18-13-3 as the host this year.

Boston and the 'Canes have split a pair of meetings so far this year with each club winning on home ice. Carolina's 5-1 victory over the Bruins on Jan. 24 ended a six-game slide against Boston in the regular season for the Hurricanes. Boston had also won three straight in Raleigh prior to that setback.

Carolina beat the Bruins in seven games during last year's conference semifinals.