Hurricanes 2, Panthers 1 (OT)

Staff photo by Chris Seward

Carolina came out strong but had to grind it out in overtime once more.

Joe Corvo scored his second straight game-winning goal for a 2-1 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers before 14,533 at the RBC Center Thursday.

It was the Canes’ first back-to-back win since November, but the Canes now have gained at least a point in the last six games.

Corvo, dogged by defenders, moved the puck in front of the net and back-handed the game-winner with 44 seconds left.

“Just a little patience,” said Corvo. “I thought I would show a little patience.

“I think everybody in the arena thought I was going to shoot that puck when it came up to me. But the guy didn't fall for it, so I kind of had to make a desperation move around him.

“Once I got around him it was kind of a waiting game. I saw Ray (Whitney) peeling off for a one-timer and a guy closed him off, so I had to make a move."

Rod Brind'Amour also was credited with an assist on the play, his 700th, which makes him the 33rd player in the NHL books with 400 goals and 700 assists.

“It's something when you're done and you look back it's nice to have these kinds of milestones,” said Brind’Amour. “But the big thing was the win. We deserved that game, I thought. We gave up kind of an unlucky goal, really.”

For 30 minutes the Hurricanes played dominant hockey but owned only a 1-0 lead.

After playing three strong power plays, they turned their fourth opportunity into a bugaboo when former Hurricane Cory Stillman emerged from the penalty box just as Carolina wing Justin Williams lost the puck on the edge of the neutral zone.

Florida center Kamil Kreps got the puck to Stillman, who was alone. He skated towards center and backhanded a goal on Cam Ward.

It was Williams who scored first in the opening period. He hadn’t scored since November 23, 2007. Williams missed the first 25 games with a torn Achilles tendon.

It was also the team’s first goal in three first period power plays. The Canes looked strong on all three of those power plays and out-hustled their opponents through the mid-way point of the second period.

Williams’ goal came the 14:52 mark when Ray Whitney got the puck down to him in the left corner.

He charged the goal and put the puck past Florida goalie Tomas Vakoun, who kept Florida in the game with 15 saves in the first period.

The Canes would have taken a 2-0 lead into the second period if not for Brett McClean, who swiped clean a shot from Whitney that had trickled past Vakoun.

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Hurricanes 2, Panthers 1 (OT):

Joe Corvo scored his second game-winner of the homestand to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers.

Panthers tie the game early in the final period. They had just wrapped up a penalty kill when Kamil Kreps beat Justin Williams for the puck and got it down to Cory Stillman, emerging from the penalty box. Stillman was alone and scored on Cam Ward at 2:29 mark.

The Hurricanes kept up their dominance to at least the mid-way point of the second period and killed their only penalty thus far. The Panthers failed to capitalize on the five shots they got in in the period. Carolina had 12 shots in the period. ...

Tim Gleason retaliates for Gregory Campbell's hit on Ryan Bayda. Gleason and and Campbell both are sent to the box for five minutes, but not before Gleason pummels Campbell to the ice with, but not limited to, some lefts. ...

Winger Justin Williams scores a power play goal at the 14:52 mark. Ray Whitney gets the puck down to Williams in the left corner. He charged the goal and made a move on Florida goalie Tomas Vakoun for his first goal since November 23, 2007, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was the third power play of the period. ...

The Canes come through with a strong first period, though they only came away with a goal on three power plays that saw them narrowly miss several opportunities. Vakoun had 15 saves on the Canes' 16 shots. Not long after Williams' goal, Whitney was robbed of a goal by Florida's Brett McClean. Bunched up in front of the net, Whitney thought he had punched the puck past Vakoun. He had, but McClean swiped the puck out just before it crossed the line. ...

Here is the starting line: Patrick Eaves, Matt Cullen, Justin Williams, Dennis Seidenberg, Joni Pitkanen. ...

The scratches: Niclas Wallin, Wade Brookbank, Anton Babchuk.