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.

The Carolina Hurricanes' 2006 Stanley Cup championship will be added to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame's "Great Moments" series.

The Canes' title run will be recognized during a May 9 reception at the N.C. Museum of History, along with with Jim Beatty's sub-four-minute mile, and will become a permanent part of the Hall's exhibit in the museum.

Lost amid the talk about Eric Staal's run of points and Cam Ward's saves and the Canes' resurgence under Kirk Muller has been some players more quietly putting together solid seasons.

Tim Brent, to name one.

The forward, signed to a two-year free-agent contract in July, has 12 goals and 24 points -- both career highs -- in 74 games. Used mostly as the Canes' fourth-line center, he also has been shifted to other lines at times under Muller while getting significant power-play time at the point.

"You know how I coach, if someone's not going (in a game) someone will move up, and he's been up at right wing, at center," Muller said today. "He's always ready to play. He's quarterbacked our power play. Because of that he's stayed in the lineup and he's been an important part of some games for us this year."

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen, who was sidelined 44 games, was activated this morning from injured reserve.

Pitkanen is expected to be available for tonight's game against the Florida Panthers.

Considered the Canes' most skilled defenseman, Pitkanen, 28, has missed 52 games this season due to injury. He suffered a concussion during a Dec. 6 road game against the Calgary Flames and then underwent knee surgery Jan. 3.

Before the injuries, Pitkanen totaled three goals and nine assists in 21 games.
 

WASHINGTON — The Carolina Hurricanes got Jeff Skinner back in the lineup Sunday, so that was a plus.

Jussi Jokinen scored a goal, his first in 25 games. Make it another plus for the Canes.

But losing to the Washington Capitals stung. And especially losing on a goal by a 20-year-old rookie defenseman who had never scored in the NHL.

The Caps emerged with a 2-1 victory at the Verizon Center, taking the lead early in the third period on Dmitry Orlov’s unlikely goal.

The Carolina Hurricanes have activated forward Jeff Skinner from the injured reserve list for today's 5 p.m. game against the Washington Capitals.

Despite missing 16 games since suffering a concussion Dec. 7, Skinner is still the team's second-leading goal scorer, according to a news release from the Canes.

But the Canes are not lacking punch on offense lately, scoring three goals in the third period last night to beat the 2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins 4-2.

Defenseman Derek Joslin has been recalled from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) to join the Hurricanes, the team announced this morning.

Joslin, 24, had three assists in four games during his AHL conditioning stint with the Checkers.

The Carolina Hurricanes have been without Jeff Skinner for 14 games.

They have missed Skinner’s goals, his offensive creativity. They’ve missed him on the power play, missed having him in crunch situations in games.

The Hurricanes would like to get Skinner back for Thursday night's game against Tampa Bay (7:30 p.m., FSCR), but his first game back is more likely to come after a few more contact practices, possibly Sunday on the road against the Washington Capitals

If you're looking to score some discounted Carolina Hurricanes tickets, Kangaroo Express convenience stores are offering up deals on weekend games.

Here's how it works:

RecZone, the Raleigh ice rink that closed in June after being foreclosed upon, will reopen this Saturday.

The facility has been renovated and renamed Raleigh Center Ice.

Chip Shelton, president of Liberty Solutions, confirmed the Saturday opening. He said Raleigh Center Ice would also hold a grand opening event in the coming weeks.

Liberty Solutions of Charlotte was hired to manage the facility for BB&T Bank until it is sold. The firm contracted with Patrick Cavanagh, owner of the Chilled Ponds Ice and Turf Sports Complex in Chesapeake, Va., to renovate the facility.

The improvements included adding a new ice plant to make the facility more energy-efficient and a new dasher board and glass system. The lobby was also renovated.

The RecZone's closing displaced hundreds of skaters and hockey players. On average, more than 1,200 people used the facility each week.

The Carolina Hurricanes practiced at the rink, and it was also the home ice for N.C. State University's club hockey team.

The Hurricanes are scheduled to hold their pre-season conditioning camp at Raleigh Center Ice beginning Aug. 22.