Hurricanes edge Ducks in shootout
RALEIGH, N.C. -- For the 10th straight game the Carolina Hurricanes scored two goals or less in regulation, yet they are finding different ways to slowly climb up the Metropolitan Division standings.
Recently called up left winger Chris Terry scored the deciding shootout goal and goaltender Justin Peters remained hot in net as the Hurricanes capped off a successful stint at PNC Arena with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.
"I'm proud of the effort of the guys because we've had some injuries and guys have jumped into some different spots, different roles, starting with Peters in net," said Carolina coach Kirk Muller. "Peters has had a great week and a great homestand. The nice thing is it has been a complete effort and a contribution from everybody in the lineup. All 20 guys are helping out and contributed to these wins. We're playing hard and we're earning it."
Carolina rebounded from a five-game losing streak to go 4-0-1, defeating two of the NHL's best teams -- Colorado and Anaheim -- to close out a season-long five-game homestand.
With the victory the Hurricanes moved over .500 at 8-7-4 and won their first shootout in four tries.
"We're still trying to find the right guys (in the shootout) and Chris scored the other night so we went back with him, and with the scouting we wanted to use some right shots if it came down to it," Muller said.
"It worked in the other game so I thought I would stick with it and make my move and hope for the best," said Terry, who has scored 92 goals in the American Hockey League over the last four seasons but hasn't been given much of an opportunity to play much in the NHL. "I like to watch the first shooter go and kind of judge from there what move is going to work."
After starting 0-5 replacing injured starter Cam Ward, Peters has allowed just six goals in his last five games in net, stopping 138 of 144 shots. And he rebounded in the shootout after allowing three goals against the Minnesota Wild two games ago, stopping right winger Teemu Selanne and center Ryan Getzlaf before Terry notched his first game-winner in seven career NHL games with a backhander past goalie Viktor Fasth.
"What a great move," center Jordan Staal said of Terry's shootout winner. "He's got some great hands and a very slow heartbeat so he's perfect for those shootouts."
Peters had a career record of 0-4 and had stopped just three of 11 attempts before his effort Friday night against the talented Ducks.
"In the last shootout I wasn't able to mix in a save so I just wanted to go in relaxed and try to have a little fun and enjoy the moment," said Peters, who lowered his goals against average to 2.29 and increased his save percentage to .923. "Last time I thought I was a little tense because I haven't had a lot of experience in the shootout in this league."
Meanwhile, the Ducks, with the most points (31) in the league, dropped their third straight and close out a four-game road trip at Pittsburgh on Monday.
Still, coach Bruce Boudreau placed a positive spin on the outcome.
"I told our team they played really well," he said. "This is a tough building, with back-to-back games, and with eight games in 13 nights is quite a task for anybody."
Tied 1-1 heading into the third period, left winger Drayson Bowman scored 3:01 in for the Hurricanes before left winger Dustin Penner tied the score four minutes later with just Anaheim's third road power-play goal of the season in 46 attempts.
The opening portions of this one produced some ragged offense with a group of Ducks battling the flu and the Hurricanes, the third-lowest scoring team in the league, managing just four shots on goal in the opening 29 minutes.
However, each team scored in the final two minutes of the second period, with right winger Corey Perry notching his team-leading 12th of the season after Getzlaf intercepted an errant clearing pass from Carolina defenseman Justin Faulk.
The Canes then went on the power play over the final minute of the period and center Eric Staal broke out of his 10-game scoring slump. The goal was originally credited to right winger Alexander Semin, but was later changed after replays showed the puck glanced off the body of Staal, who hadn't scored since Oct. 17. It was Carolina's first man-advantage goal in five games.
NOTES: Carolina came into the game as the only team without a double-digit scorer. ... LW Jeff Skinner has missed 33 of 125 games since winning Rookie of the Year honors for the Hurricanes in 2010-11. ... Carolina D Mike Komisarek was in the lineup after seven straight games as a healthy scratch. He played right wing on the fourth line instead of along the blue line. ... The Hurricanes have just seven first-period goals this season -- second lowest in the league. ... Ducks C Ryan Getzlaf returned to the lineup after missing three games with an upper-body injury. ... Carolina captain Eric Staal played in his 709th game, moving into sole possession of third place in franchise history in games played. He trails only Glen Wesley (913) and Ron Francis (1,186). ... G Victor Fasth was in net for Anaheim for the first time since Oct. 16.