Glen Wesley was discussing the reasons behind the Carolina Hurricanes' recent slump when someone reached out to shake his hand. "Can't do that," the veteran defenseman said, his hands squarely in his lap. Nothing personal, but some Hurricanes have a good reason to keep their hands to themselves. Carolina's roster has been crippled partly because of a nasty flu virus that seemingly claims a new player each day and has contributed to an irksome slide of losses in six of eight games that has decimated its Southeast Division lead. No wonder that as the Hurricanes head into this critical stretch, they're trying to stay germ-free. "This is not your typical sniffles," Coach Peter Laviolette said Monday. "These guys are tough guys who can play through just about anything, and they are down and out."