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Whitney, Brind'Amour help Hurricanes defeat Canucks

Oct 23, 2007 - 3:09 AM By Joe Johnson PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes' power play helped them do something they haven't done in nine years.

The Hurricanes scored two power-play goals and Ray Whitney had a goal and an assist en route to a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

Carolina, which returned home after a six-game road trip, defeated the Canucks for the first time at home since 1998.

The Hurricanes came into the contest ranked second in the league with the man-advantage, and took control of the game early in the second period.

On the power play, Whitney set up Cory Stillman, who slapped a one-timer from the top of the right circle past Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo. It was Stillman's third goal of the season and gave Carolina a 1-0 lead 5:07 into the second.

"Our power play didn't score in the first period but we moved the puck around well," Stillman said. "We didn't change anything and in the long run it paid off. It's important to score first because that team usually wins a lot of hockey games."

The one-goal lead stood until the 7:01 mark of the third when Carolina's Chad LaRose took a long outlet pass up the middle of the ice from Rod Brind'Amour, skated in all alone, and beat Luongo high on the glove side for his fourth tally of the season.

"It was good that we needed it," LaRose said. "It was perfect. Actually I thought their D was going to get a stick on it and it was like maybe three inches off their stick and right on my tape."

Vancouver answered when Brendan Morrison scored his fourth of the year to get the Canucks within 2-1 with 6:41 left.

However, Whitney put home an empty-net goal on the power play with 33 seconds left to give Carolina the victory.

"He (Luongo) has always been a challenge for us even when he was in Florida," Whitney said. "It was nice to see a couple get by him to give us some breathing room."

Luongo finished with 28 saves for the Canucks, who were playing their second game in as many nights.

"You can't give them (Carolina) too many opportunities," Luongo said. "Typically they always come out strong in this arena."

Carolina netminder Cam Ward remained undefeated in regulation this season, making 19 saves.

Vancouver left winger Taylor Pyatt suffered a facial injury near his left eye late in the first period and did not return.