ESPN NHL

After opening their season-high seven-game road trip with a win over a division leader, the Anaheim Ducks lost to the worst team in the NHL their last time out.

Their next opponent has struggled as well, but the Carolina Hurricanes enter Saturday night's matchup looking to extend their season-best winning streak to four.

Anaheim (17-14-4) started its trip by posting its third consecutive win, 2-1 in overtime against Southeast Division-leading Washington on Wednesday, as Ryan Getzlaf scored his 11th goal with 57 seconds remaining in the extra period.

The Ducks then went to New York on Thursday to face the league-worst Islanders, who came in with one win in their previous 21 games. Anaheim allowed New York to score three times in a 99-second span in the first period en route to a 3-2 loss.

Curtis McElhinney started in net and allowed three goals on 12 shots before Jonas Hiller came on in relief and made 17 saves.

"Tonight, things were tough around here," said left wing Jason Blake, who had a goal and an assist for his first multi-point performance in 20 games. "We have to forget about it and move on."

Lubomir Visnovsky had five assists in four games before being held off the scoresheet for Anaheim, which had earned at least one point in five straight. It was the Ducks' third regulation loss in 11 games (7-3-1).

"We just (have) to keep scratching and clawing," Getzlaf said. "We're not going to blow anybody out."

Carolina (14-12-4) hasn't blown anyone out during its three-game run, winning each by a goal -- two in shootouts. The Hurricanes won twice in their previous nine games before this win streak.

They ended their five-game trip with a 3-2 shootout victory over Atlanta on Thursday to earn seven of a possible 10 points on the trek. Cam Ward stopped 45 shots as Carolina posted its second straight comeback win.

Ward was pulled after allowing two goals in the first 1:42 on Wednesday night before the Hurricanes rallied for a 4-3 win over Florida. On Thursday, the Thrashers led 2-0 heading into the third period, but Brandon Sutter and Eric Staal scored to send the game into extra time.

"Tonight was big for us," said Staal, who leads Carolina with 13 goals and 17 assists. "You don't want to get behind, especially on the road. It's encouraging what we did the last two games."

Ward has started the last nine games, going 4-2-2 with a 2.03 goals-against average.

Carolina will be looking to get its power play on track after scoring once in its last 26 opportunities. The Hurricanes may have a good chance at doing so against Anaheim, which has allowed seven power-play goals in its last 31 short-handed situations.

Anaheim has won two in a row over Carolina following losses in the previous three meetings. The Ducks have won three of their last four road matchups with the Hurricanes after going 0-5-0 with a tie in the past six.