Carolina Hurricanes defeat Atlanta Thrashers in 6-1 blow-out – NHL Recap
Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu each scored a goal and two assists while rookie Cam Ward turned aside 18 shots to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Atlanta Thrashers 6-1 on Friday night.
Ward, making his 15th consecutive start, improved to 9-2-1 in his previous 13 games.
“We played a really solid game,” Ward said. “It was a quiet game for me most of the night.”
Erik Cole, Joni Pitkanen and Brandon Sutter each also lit the lamp for Carolina, which has won five of its previous six contests. Jussi Jokinen added a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.
“There have been moments this last week when it looked pretty grim,” forward Erik Cole said. “It was nice to see and be a part of our regrouping.”
This victory moves Hurricanes into a tie with New York Rangers for the final National Hockey League play-off spot in the Eastern Conference.
To earn the play-off spot, Carolina will need a victory against Tampa Bay Lightning or a regulation loss by the New York Rangers to New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
Hurricanes Head Coach Paul Maurice believes that his side has the spirit to make a play-off spot. He said, “Nothing has really changed. Tomorrow night is the one we’re focusing on. It will be a challenge for us.”
Bryan Little tallied the lone goal for the Thrashers, who have lost three of four games. Goal-tender Ondrej Pavelec surrendered all six goals on 32 shots in the defeat.
Pavelec was disappointed that his side did not show a strong effort. He said, "I feel like a loser. We didn't make it. That's what happens when you try to score too much."
Carolina opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the first period when Skinner whacked in a rebound off a shot from Ruutu for his 31st goal of the season.
The Hurricanes doubled their advantage less than four minutes later when Erik Cole unleashed a wrist shot past Pavelece for his 26th goal of the season.
Joni Pitkanen put the Hurricanes up 3-0 less than a minute into the middle period when he moved past an Atlanta Player in open ice to beat Pavelec for his fifth goal of the season.
Carolina took a 4-0 lead in the sixth minute of the final period with Sutter’s 14th goal. Less than two minutes later, Jokinen made it 5-0 with his 19th goal of the season.
The Hurricanes extended their lead to 6-0 on a power-play with less than 13 minutes to play in the third period. The goal came when Ruutu blasted a shot that beat Thrashers goal-keeper for his 19th goal of the season.
Ward was just less than a minute away from recording his fifth shut-out of the season and the 17th of his career, but Little’ s 18th goal came just less than a minute remaining in the third to ruin Ward’s shut-out bid.
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