• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Brind'Amour's two goals propels Hurricanes past Panthers

Nov 18, 2007 - 4:15 AM By Barry Smith PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes' success continues to hinge on the play of their captain.

Rod Brind'Amour scored two goals Saturday night as the Hurricanes avoided a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 triumph over the Southeast Division rival Florida Panthers.

Cam Ward made 27 saves for Carolina, which had been outscored, 9-1, in its previous two contests.

Brind'Amour gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 advantage at 9:52 of the first period. With Carolina on the power play, Cory Stillman sent a pass to Brind'Amour from the right corner, and the 18-year veteran snapped the puck past goaltender Tomas Vokoun.

Carolina took a 2-0 advantage early in the third, when Brind'Amour accepted a feed from defenseman Mike Commodore in front of the net and fired a shot between Vokoun's pads at 2:44. The goal originally was waved off by the on-ice officials, but it was ruled a tally after video review.

Brind'Amour said the initial call was frustrating because he knew did not kick the puck.

"You just never know when it goes up in the booth," Brind'Amour said of the video replay. "I've seen too many goals disallowed that I thought were sure goals."

Brind'Amour is the only member of the Hurricanes to record a point in each of their 12 victories this season. The 37-year-old has nine goals and 21 points in their wins, while posting just one tally and four assists in their other nine contests.

"When he goes, everybody goes," Carolina defenseman Glen Wesley said. "I'm not trying to toot any horns, but I'd take him over any captain in the league. He's someone you can count on every night."

Ward's bid for his fourth career shutout ended when Nathan Horton netted a power-play goal with 6:01 remaining. Horton fired a wrist shot from between the circles that trickled past the goalie.

"It was one of those freak plays," Ward said of the goal. "I was thankful it didn't cost us in the end."

The Panthers had a chance to tie the game late in the third period, when two members of the Hurricanes were sent to the penalty box. With Brind'Amour already serving a hooking penalty, Wesley was called for tripping with 4:15 remaining in the game.

Carolina was able to prevent Florida from getting the equalizer, however, a feat Ward said gave his team a boost.

"Anytime you kill off a 5-on-3, it's a big boost, momentum-shifter," Ward said. "I think there is a sense of reward after that kill."

"We had a couple of good chances," Florida coach Jacques Martin said. "They just weren't able to put the puck in."

Saturday's game was Wesley's 1,400th career contest. He has played 856 of those games with the Hurricanes organization.

"It's something that I'll sit down and savor and cherish when it's all done and when I'm retired and sitting on the couch and watching some hockey," Wesley said.

Vokoun turned aside 31 of the 33 shots he faced for Florida, which has lost five of its last six games.