AP News, November 18th, 2007
Rod Brind'Amour scored two goals, including one allowed after a video review, and the Carolina Hurricanes rebounded from their first home shutout of the season to beat the Florida Panthers 2-1 Saturday night.
Cam Ward stopped 27 shots a night after the Atlanta Thrashers beat him for two goals on 24 shots during a 3-0 victory. His solid play helped the Hurricanes maintain their hold on first place in the Southeast Division, extending their lead on second-place Tampa Bay to six points.
The Panthers were held without a goal for the first time this season and lost for the sixth time in eight games.
With Carolina leading 1-0, Brind'Amour took a pass from Mike Commodore as he raced toward the goal. He fought off a couple of defenders and somehow got the puck by goalie Tomas Vokoun. Yet before the celebration gained strength, the goal was waved off, since officials ruled Brind'Amour had intentionally kicked it in.
Replay officials looked at it quickly and reversed the call, giving Brind'Amour his second two-goal outing in the past five games. He has a team-leading 26 points.
Florida got to 2-1 at 13:59 of the third period on Nathan Horton's seventh goal. His deflected shot caught Ward leaning to his left, and the puck squirted under his stick for a power-play goal.
Minutes later, the Panthers had a wonderful opportunity to tie it, with nearly 90 seconds of two-man advantage following penalties to Brind'Amour and Glen Wesley. Ward made a couple of nifty saves to thwart the Panthers, helping the Hurricanes hold on.
Brind'Amour's first goal came midway through the first period on the power play when he and Cory Stillman worked a beautiful give-and-go near the left circle. It was Stillman's first point in three games; he earlier had a streak of eight games with at least one point.
A brief but entertaining fight late in the second period sent Horton and Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason to the penalty box. Gleason landed a couple of punches, then lifted Horton in the air before slamming him to the ice.
Notes:@ Wesley became the 10th NHL defenseman to play in 1,400 games. He made his debut in 1987 with the Boston Bruins. The Panthers continue a three-game road trip Monday night in Washington.
