RALEIGH, North Carolina -- The Carolina Hurricanes need a win and a little help from the Washington Capitals to steal the final Eastern Conference playoff spot Sunday when they conclude the home-and-home series with the Atlanta Thrashers.

The 'Canes get a huge boost with the return of Rod Brind'Amour, who missed Saturday's game after suffering a mild concussion Monday at Pittsburgh. He passed a base line test that he had failed on Friday.

Carolina enters its final game of the season two points behind the Buffalo Sabres for the final berth in the East. To make it, the Hurricanes need to defeat Atlanta for the second time in as many days and have Buffalo lose at Washington. If the Sabres win or reach overtime, they will claim the spot.

Carolina would win a tiebreaker with Buffalo should the teams both have 84 points, by virtue of a higher win total.

"It's a tough position to be in," Hurricanes left wing Gary Roberts said. "I know we put ourselves in that position, and you pay the consequences, and we're paying them right now. All week we sat around watching teams go by us, teams win when we thought other teams would do us favors. So obviously we're hoping for some favors."

The Hurricanes stayed alive with a 4-3 victory over the Thrashers on Saturday thanks to Roberts' two goals and Arturs Irbe's 26 saves. If Carolina makes it to the playoffs, it may look back on Irbe's sprawling pad save on Mike Stapleton's shot from the right side late in the game that maintained the one-goal lead.

Saturday's loss was Atlanta's 60th of the season, the most by any team since Ottawa dropped 61 in its second season of 1993-94. The Thrashers' 39 points will be the fewest for an expansion team since the Senators had 24 in 1992-93.

Atlanta is the perfect opponent for Carolina as it has dropped eight of its last nine contests. The Thrashers, who have allowed at least one goal in 15 of 16 periods, have dropped all four meetings with the Hurricanes.