Hurricanes, suddenly hot, stop Lightning

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 22, 2009

RALEIGH

Tuomo Ruutu and Jussi Jokinen scored second-period goals, and Manny Legace made 20 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 last night.

Chad LaRose added a goal with 4:23 remaining in the game.

While Carolina remains near the bottom of the NHL standings, the Hurricanes have won three of their past four and have points in their past five games.

Martin St. Louis scored for the Lightning, and Mike Smith made 24 saves. Tampa Bay entered the game 4-0-3 in its previous seven.

The winner came late in the second period when Jokinen, in front of the net, tipped Joe Corvo's slow-moving shot through Smith's legs.

The Hurricanes had tied the score on a power play earlier in the period when Joni Pitkanen made a nice play to keep the puck in at the blue line. Pitkanen then fed Ray Whitney, who sent a perfect cross-ice pass to Ruutu. Ruutu one-timed it past Smith's glove for his ninth point in his past six games.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring late in the first.

With Tom Kostopoulos in the penalty box, Kurtis Foster took a shot from the point that deflected off the stick of Carolina's Matt Cullen. Off-balance, Legace couldn't control the rebound, and the puck dribbled out to St. Louis, who converted from a sharp angle.

Carolina has won eight straight games at home vs. the Lightning. It was the first time in 15 games Carolina hadn't allowed at least three goals.

Tampa Bay 1 0 0 -- 1

Carolina 0 2 1 -- 3

First Period--1, Tampa Bay, St. Louis 5 (Foster, Lecavalier), 15:18 (pp).

Second Period--2, Carolina, Ruutu 6 (Whitney, Pitkanen), 2:35 (pp). 3, Carolina, Jokinen 6 (Corvo, LaRose), 13:46.

Third Period--4, Carolina, LaRose 1 (Samsonov, Corvo), 15:37.

Shots on Goal--Tampa Bay 9-5-7--21. Carolina 10-10-7--27. Goalies--Tampa Bay, Smith. Carolina, Legace. A--13,224 (18,680). T--2:21.