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Sutter lifts Hurricanes over Avs in OT

Dec 4, 2010 - 5:43 AM Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Brandon Sutter scored 1:16 into overtime to lead Carolina to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at RBC Center.

Sutter skated up the right side of the ice and managed to stay on the puck despite a deflection by defenseman Matt Hunwick in the neutral zone. He eventually beat Craig Anderson with a sharp wrister from the right circle to give Carolina its first home win since November 17.

"I think we played a pretty good game," Sutter said. "It was fast and intense, it kind of felt like a playoff atmosphere. We came out a little slow in the first five minutes, but got it going."

Jeff Skinner also scored for the Hurricanes, who had lost their last three games as the host. Cam Ward made 34 saves in the victory.

Milan Hejduk tallied the lone goal for the Avalanche, who started their Southeast Division five-game road trip on a sour note. Anderson allowed both goals on 30 shots in defeat.

"It was one of those games where whoever got the next break seemed like that was going to be the way the game ended. And they got it," said Colorado head coach Joe Sacco.

Kevin Shattenkirk registered an assist, giving him an eight-game point streak to set the franchise record for longest such streak by a rookie defenseman.

The game remained scoreless after two periods, and Carolina broke the tie with a goal early in the third.

Skinner took a shot from in tight near the slot, and Anderson deflected the puck behind the net. Skinner raced to grab his own rebound and attempted a wraparound that Anderson stopped again; his third attempt, however, was backhanded into the top right-hand corner at 4:50.

Colorado, though, had an answer with 7:09 to play in regulation.

Shattenkirk led a rush up ice and maneuvered through three Carolina defenders before dishing to Hejduk in the offensive zone. Hejduk, who grabbed the puck in stride, fired a wrister past Ward from the left circle.

Despite 27 total shots by both clubs in the first period, neither Ward nor Anderson allowed a goal. The Hurricanes failed on their lone power play chance in the period.

The Avalanche had three consecutive power plays in the first half of the second period, but couldn't find the back of the net.

Game Notes

Colorado is 0-8-2 when scoring two goals or fewer...The Avs have lost four of five overall...Colorado defenseman Adam Foote (leg) returned from a three-game absence...These teams split the two-game season series last year...The Hurricanes will begin a five-game road trip Saturday in Nashville...The last rookie defenseman with an eight-game point streak was Barry Beck with the Colorado Rockies in 1977-78.