PHOTO: The Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) is congratulated by Jiri Tlusty (19), Tim Brent (37) and Brandon Sutter (16) after he scored the game winner Thursday, April 6, 2012, during the shootout period of an NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at the PNC Arena in Raleigh. The Canes beat Montreal 2-1 in the Canes' final home game of the season. Photo by Chris Seward - cseward@newsobserver.com
RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes played their final home game of the season Thursday and sent their fans home happy as Eric Staal’s goal in a shootout lifted the Canes to a 2-1 victory at PNC Arena.
The Canadiens had a brief 5-on-3 power play late in regulation but could not score. Montreal then began the overtime with 1:33 of a 4-on-3 power play and could not score.
In the shootout, Canes goalie Cam Ward stopped shots by Lars Eller and David Desharnais, while Habs goalie Peter Budaj stopped Jeff Skinner and the Canes' Jussi Jokinen was wide on his attempt.
Erik Cole was the third Habs shooter. The former Hurricanes forward has 34 goals this season but his attempt hit the post.
"I definitely didn't want it to end with Erik Cole scoring on me in a shootout," Ward said. "The thing about the shootout is, you have to be able to be relaxed. I felt like I was more patient than previous shootouts, and it paid off. It's almost like the less you try, the better you get."
That left it up to Staal, who was 2-for-17 in his career on shootout shots before Thursday. But he knocked in the winner with a forehand flip that Budaj couldn't corral, giving the Canes their first shootout win of the season after six losses.
"It wasn't the prettiest looking goal," Staal said. "I'm just glad it went in for Cam because I thought he played a real solid game."
Canes coach Kirk Muller said it was fitting Staal score the winning shootout goal.
"The way he played the second half (of the season), it was great to see him be the final shooter and score the final goal," Muller said.
After a slow-moving, scoreless first period, both the Canes and Habs scored in the second and it was 1-1 after 40 minutes.
Blake Geoffrion gave the Habs a 1-0 lead at 4:32 of the second, but Chad LaRose's power-play goal tied it for the Canes with 9:58 left in the period.
Geoffrion beat Ward with a quick wraparound for his second of the season. But the Canadiens later were penalized for delay-of-game and LaRose scored, taking a pass from Jamie McBain at the beside the net, getting a shot off, then banging in the rebound.
It was LaRose's 19th goal of the season, tying his career high set in 2008-2009.
Ward had some timely saves for the Canes in second. He made a diving blocker save on a shot by Desharnais with 6:26 left in the period, then made a sprawling stop on Tomas Plekanec's shorthanded breakaway with 3:40 left.
The Canes had a chance to grab the lead 23 seconds into the game, but LaRose was denied on a shot in front by Budaj.
The Habs, last in the Eastern Conference, were in the second half of a back-to-back, having beaten Tampa Bay 5-2 Wednesday night in Montreal.
Canes defenseman Bryan Allen was playing his 600th NHL game.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Finally..
Fri, 04/06/2012 - 00:19 — louis12580but, sadly, too little, too late. A pretty hum-drum game for 40 minutes, but got quite interesting the last 20. I do have a question on the Eric Staal play. He was hooked, and that penalty was going to be called, but what happened after that is baffling at best. Plekanac should have at least been called for his two handed whack of Eric's ankle and Eric really should have been awarded a penalty shot. What was the ruling/rationale behind that? If someone was watching on t.v. and heard John/Tripps call/question I'd be interested to know. If Chip can answer, fine as well. Just a strange call/non call. Let's just say that if the roles were reversed and the game was in Montreal....
Non-call
Fri, 04/06/2012 - 08:59 — ptuckerJohn and Tripp were advocating a secondary call of either tripping/slashing to Plekanec. They did not think it was penalty shot worthy, as he wasn't exactly in the clear. I was baffled that two separate calls weren't made on that play. Plekanec attempted to slice Staals's leg off with two good whacks! It is what it is, right?
non-call
Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:19 — louis12580Thanks. There really should have been a second call. There's no excuse for not making that call. As for the potential for a penalty shot, it was there. I've seen lesser fouls lead to a penalty shot.