Hurricanes 2 - 3 Panthers
Final - OT
  for this game

Versteeg's OT goal lifts Panthers over Hurricanes

Dec 19, 2011 - 2:28 AM Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Kris Versteeg hit the post late in regulation. He didn't miss in overtime.

Versteeg supplied the game-winning goal with 1:52 to go in the extra session, as the Southeast Division-leading Florida Panthers earned a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at BankAtlantic Center.

In overtime, Brian Campbell's pass to Stephen Weiss pinballed off skates in the low slot. Versteeg gathered the puck at the side of the net and fired it home before Carolina goaltender Cam Ward could react.

The Panthers tied the game on Jason Garrison's power-play goal at the 5:47 mark of the third period.

Sean Bergenheim also lit the lamp for Florida, which has an eight-game point streak at home (6-0-2). The Panthers are 6-1-5 during a stretch of 12 consecutive home games decided by one goal.

"Nothing comes easy for this team," Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen said. "There was no easy way to play that game. We're not looking for an easy game but we'd take one right now and no one is giving it to us."

Jose Theodore made 24 saves in the win.

Ward stopped 22 shots for the Hurricanes, who were trying to win two games in a row for the first time since November 20-21.

"We're not happy losing that one point, but there's a lot of good things in our game right now," said Carolina head coach Kirk Muller.

On a great individual play, Bergenheim rushed up the ice and fired a shot wide of the net. Bergenheim, who wound up leaving the game with a lower-body injury, collected a carom off the end boards and beat Ward on the blocker side 4:16 into the contest.

The Hurricanes tied it up with 1:22 left in the first period on a Tim Gleason shot from the point. Carolina moved ahead when Chad LaRose forced a turnover and beat Theodore high with a wrister from the left circle at 13:45 of the second period.

Game Notes

Florida's Ed Jovanovski had two assists...Carolina's record fell to 1-6-2 this season within the division.






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