ATLANTA --The last thing the Carolina Hurricanes can afford at this point in the season is a losing streak of any length.
The Canes, gamely making a last-gasp push for the playoffs, need every point they can muster and picked up two Sunday with a solid 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena.
Manny Legace wasn't overloaded with work but cleaned up whatever came his way in net for the Canes. The old pro, who received a tryout with the Thrashers in preseason training camp, used 27 saves to notch his 24th career shutout and his first this season.
Less than 24 hours after a punchless 4-1 road loss to the Florida Panthers that ended a seven-game win streak, Carolina got power-play goals from Brandon Sutter and Jussi Jokinen, and added goals from Joni Pitkanen and Rod Brind'Amour to polish off the Thrashers. The Canes (27-31-7) simply had more jump, more speed and seemingly more determination.
Sutter and Pitkanen scored as the Canes led 2-0 after two periods, and Brind'Amour and Jokinen punched in their goals to make it 4-0 early in the third. By then the Thrashers (28-26-10) were doing little more than holding, hooking, high-sticking, slashing and heading to the penalty box.
Scoreless on all seven power plays against Florida, Carolina converted with a man advantage in the first period as Sutter picked up his 17th goal of the season and on Jokinen's 26th in the third.
Sutter scored after Atlanta's Evgeny Artyukhin was called for interference on a faceoff with Eric Staal. The goal came at 16:57, with three seconds left on the power play, as Sutter pushed his point streak to six games.
Taking a touch pass from Tuomo Ruutu in front of the goal, he smacked the puck past Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec, who got a piece of the shot with his glove but had the puck trickle past him and over the goal line.
Pitkanen scored his fifth of the season with 4:25 left in the second on a 4-on-4 after the Canes' Patrick Dwyer and Atlanta's Jim Slater were sent off with matching holding penalties. After seemingly skating all over the Atlanta zone, from blue line to behind the net, Pitkanen took a pass from Jokinen in the slot and ripped a shot past Pavelec.
Pitkanen has often been urged to take more shots, and for that reason.
Brind'Amour's goal, his second in three games and seventh this season, came on an odd-man rush into the Atlanta zone by the Canes' new-look fourth line. Tom Kostopoulos and Sergei Samsonov, moved to the line Sunday, had assists — the second of the game for Samsonov.
Jokinen's power-play goal came on some pinpoint passing, with defensemen Brian Pothier and Tim Gleason earning assists.
The Canes controlled the pace of play most of the first period, although both teams looked a little sluggish after games and then travel Saturday night. The Thrashers, beaten 6-2 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, were the more sluggish of the two and managed just four shots in the period.
Carolina did make some crisp breakout passes and built speed through the neutral zone, but the Canes weren't always sharp in the offensive zone even though they had a 15-4 shooting edge.
The Canes made a few adjustments after the loss to the Panthers. Zach Boychuk was moved up to Pat Dwyer's line with Erik Cole, with Samsonov moving to Brind'Amour's line with Kostopoulos.
Defensively, Pitkanen was paired with Brett Carson and Alex Picard with Jay Harrison.
The Thrashers played without Evander Kane, who was hit by a shot in the Lightning game.
The Canes return to Raleigh for two days, then head to Washington to face the Capitals. Once again, it will be a game the Hurricanes need to win.
Then again, they can't afford many losses now.
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 - a shutout!
Mon, 03/08/2010 - 01:26 — beer210They've been close a few time, but had yet to keep the opponent off the scoreboard. I continue to be impressed by the play of Sutter - the most well rounded player on the team. A better skater, and more defensively responsible than Staal. It won't be long (maybe early Dec. of 2010) that we'll be saying that Sutter is the best player on the team. Speaking of the "best" where is Staal? He's still the best in the league at coasting from blue line to blue line and failing to put real forcheck or backcheck pressure on the opponent. Only the 3rd best Staal in the NHL most nights.
Canes v. Thrashers
Mon, 03/08/2010 - 01:02 — abramsdougFor those who didn't have a link, here's a quick summary. The Hurricanes returned to the intense, urgent hockey they had played during the win streak (and which somehow eluded them yesterday). Sutter played extremely well and seems to get faster each game. Jokinen continues to have an amazing ability to come up with key goals and key passes. His pass to Pitkanen for Pitkanen's goal was highlight reel quality. Brind'Amour had a goal that resulted from his second effort to hammer the puck. Brind'Amour is playing with much more intensity and drive since relinquishing the "C."
The defense played as a cohesive group and played quite well. Picard is playing extremely well and has speed and toughness. Gleason is Gleason -- and is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the NHL. Pitkanen was scary with his speed and puck handling. He is so strong on the puck and so fast he can play keep away against the opponents.
Boychuk had one of his best games. He drew three penalties as he used his speed and quickness to find open ice and left the Thrashers with no choice but to hold him or slash him. Boychuk continues to play a hitting game and I think the fact somebody his size is hammering bigger players gets under his opponents' skin.
Carson continues to be quietly impressive. He seems always to be in the right position and remains calm no matter what the circumstances. Legace had one of his best games as well.
LaRose was hustling all over the ice and seems as nearly recovered from his injuries as he has been. Cole spent time with Boychuk and Dwyer. That line is very fast and physical. It also has the ability to put pucks in the net.
It was a great game to watch. The trades Jim Rutherford made at the deadlines have definitely improved the team; and after this year's entry draft, the Hurricanes will be even stronger a team than they are now.
overall
Sun, 03/07/2010 - 22:50 — john006didnt see the game but good win . wooo hoooo !!!!
on to the nations capital .
divide and conquor boys !!!
make ya mama proud !!!