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Third-period outburst leads Panthers past Hurricanes

Nov 1, 2007 - 3:53 AM SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- A four-goal third period enabled the Florida Panthers to start their Southeast Division stretch on the right foot.

Richard Zednik scored the game-winning goal and Olli Jokinen had a tally and two assists as the Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2, on Wednesday.

Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and Nathan Horton also scored for Florida, which plays nine of its next 10 games against division rivals.

"Huge, really huge," said Bouwmeester, who tallied his first goal of the season. "It's a good beginning to a big stretch (of games)."

With the game tied at 2-2 and 2:19 remaining in the third period, Jokinen found a streaking Zednik with a crisp pass to start a breakaway. Zednik carried the puck in and beat goaltender Cam Ward with a wrist shot to give Florida the lead.

"My only thought was, 'Stay focused and score,'" said Zednik, who was slashed by defenseman Glen Wesley on the play. "I only wanted to keep concentrating on what was in front of me."

The Panthers doubled the advantage with 37 seconds remaining after Ward failed to properly poke-check the puck away from his net. Horton seized the opportunity, scoring into the vacant net to effectively end the game.

"I have to make that play," Ward said. "You have to clear the puck in that situation."

Florida coach Jacques Martin was pleased with his team's work ethic in overcoming a two-goal deficit. The Panthers had lost seven straight to the Hurricanes last season after ironically also winning the opening matchup between the teams.

"We were able to pounce on them and create chances," Martin said. "You work hard for 60 minutes and take advantage of the power-play opportunities, and good things happen."

Erik Cole gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 advantage with 8:25 remaining in the contest.

After the Hurricanes dumped the puck into the offensive zone, Eric Staal used his considerable speed - and a bit of indecision by Bouwmeester - to gain possession. Staal then fed Cole, who was stationed in front of the net for an easy goal.

Bouwmeester, who hesitated as to whether to defend Staal of Cole on the previous goal, made up for his costly mistake by blasting a shot from the left faceoff circle that beat Ward and tied the game at 2-2.

"It was a big goal and it came at a time when we've had trouble," Martin said. "It's about building character and working through adversity."

With Florida trailing, 1-0, in the third period, Jokinen stepped up to tie the game at 7:27.

After the Panthers won a faceoff, the puck found Jokinen between the circles, and the captain beat Ward high to the glove side to level the game at 1-1.

"We don't look back. We can only look forward, and what's important is to be more prepared every day," Jokinen said.

Carolina coach Peter Laviolette believed the diving penalty called on Justin Williams with 6:47 left in the game might have been the turning point.

"Justin Williams was going up the ice to get in on the rush and was taken down," Laviolette said. "I have no idea why there was a diving penalty."

Carolina's Ray Whitney, who played with the Panthers from 1997-2001, opened the scoring at 4:07 of the second period.

After Cole skated up the right wing, he stopped abruptly in the faceoff circle and fed Whitney in the slot. Whitney's wrist shot beat a partially screened Tomas Vokoun to give Carolina a 1-0 lead.

"We had it and kind of let it slip away tonight," Cole said. "We know our capabilities and just have to bounce back from this one."

Whitney has five goals in his past five games.

Vokoun and Ward each finished with 28 saves.

"You just have to keep your poise and execute for 60 minutes," Vokoun said. "When we got down, I just had to stay in there and keep us in the game."