Panthers Defeat 'Canes in Rubber Match

The Florida Panthers traveled to Carolina to play the Hurricanes in an important Wales conference match up. The last time these two teams met the 'Canes defeated the Panthers 4-2 and handed Florida their 4th straight loss.

Florida was looking for redemption in what is a key Conference match up against two of the top teams. The Panthers are coming into Carolina hot and trying to keep alive their current 4 game winning streak. The Hurricanes will be trying to snap their current two game losing streak.

This game was everything that it was hyped up to be. It was a very close first period but neither team was able to score and they both went into the locker room after 20 minutes trying to figure out how to get the upper hand.

It was the 'Canes who struck first and early. Carlo Colaiacovo gave his team a 1-0 lead just 1:02 into the second. Jay McKee made it 2-0 a couple minutes later at 3:18 and it was looking like Carolina was on their way to snapping their losing streak and ending the Panthers winning streak.

that's when coach Mike Keenen called a time out and whatever he said seemed to work. Petr Bondra scored his 7th of the year at 4:38 cutting the lead to 2-1. Then the Panthers got 2 unanswered goals late in the second period just :12 seconds apart. Owen Nolan notched his 15th of the year at 19:03 and defenceman Kim Johnsson scored his third of the season at 19:15 to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead going into the final and decisive period.

The Panthers shut the 'Canes offense down and only allowed them 3 shots in the period. Valeri Bure got the insurance goal on an unassisted power play goal at 2:18 and secured the Panthers 5th straight win with a 4-2 victory.

The Panthers head back home for a 5 game home stand and will host the Colorado Avalanche in the first game back and will be looking to improve their home record to 7-7 and get it to .500 for the first time since the beginning of the season and extend their winning streak to a season high 6th game.