Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal each scored a pair
of goals to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-2 rout of the Florida Panthers
in the opener of a home-and-home series between the Southeast Division foes
from PNC Arena.
Jokinen added an assist on Riley Nash's first career goal, with Nash coming up
with a pair of helpers for the rookie's first-ever three-point game. Alexander
Semin delivered three assists to help Carolina, which now owns sole possession
of first place in the Southeast, ending a string of five straight losses to
division opponents to begin the season.
Jiri Tlusty also scored for the Hurricanes, while Cam Ward came up with 22
saves in the victory.
Shawn Matthias and Filip Kuba had the goals for the slumping Panthers, now
2-5-4 in their last 11 outings. Scott Clemmensen stopped just 27-of-33 shots
in an emergency relief stint for starting goaltender Jose Theodore, who exited
the contest after just 2:22 of action due to a lower-body injury.
The Sports Network