Hurricanes Finally Win To Break 14 Game Skid

Finally the Carolina Hurricanes have returned to the win column. Going 0-10-4 in their last 14 games tied the Canes' franchise worst losing streak. Back in 1992 when they set the team low mark they still known as the Hartford Whalers! Carolina almost lost this one too after going up 3-0 against the Minnesota Wild by allowing the Wild to come back.

Jussi Jokinen put Carolina in the lead 2:45 into the game with hard work by driving to the net off a faceoff in the Wild's end. Tuomo Ruutu passed quickly to Jokinen who tipped it past Minnesota netminder Niklas Backstrom. The Wild were about to be called for a penalty on the play until Jokinen's 4th goal of the season nullified the possible power play. With a little over 2 minutes left in the first, Carolina defenseman Joe Corvo notched his 3rd of the season with a onetimer on a pass from Bryan Rodney.

Ray Whitney's shot from the top of the faceoff circle eluded Backstrom who was screened by Ruutu giving Carolina a 3-0 lead 5 minutes early in the second. Whitney ended the night with 3 points (one goal, two assists). The teams traded goals mid-period with Antti Miettinen breaking the goose egg by getting on past Carolina goalie Michael Leighton (who got his first win of the season) and Brandon Sutter who put the Canes back up by three goals.

At this point what has plagued the Hurricanes happened yet again. Minnesota scored twice more to get within one goal and you could almost feel the tension as the Carolina players gripped their sticks a little tighter and probably thought here we go again. Left winger Robert Earl and defenseman John Scott both netted their 1st goals of the year. Earl, who was a recent callup from the AHL, got his 2nd of the game (and 2nd of the season) early in the 3rd period to tie it all up at 4-4. No further goals were scored in the 3rd and OT brought nothing, so off to the shoot out.

Tuomo Ruutu CAR Miss
Antti Miettinen MIN Save
Jussi Jokinen CAR Goal!
Mikko Koivu MIN Miss
Matt Cullen CAR Save
Marek Zidlicky MIN Save

Jokinen's shootout goal proved to be the winner finally snapping Carolina's long winless streak. To be fair they did get 4 points due to making it to OT in four of those games, but 4 out of a possible 28 points just sucks. Hopefully the Hurricane can continue to turn it around - they went so deep in last year's playoffs and this losing streak surprised just about everyone. On a side note, Carolina players Scott Walker, Stephane Yelle and defenseman Joni Pitkanen all left the game with injuries. No word on their status yet.

Carolina heads to Montreal on November 17th to take on the Canadiens, while Minnesota is off til Wednesday when they face the Phoenix Coyotes.