The Carolina Hurricanes avoided complete disaster Saturday night in Sunrise, Florida, beating the Florida Panthers 4-3 in a shootout after blowing a two-goal lead in the third period.
The Canes, who had lost three straight coming into Saturday’s affair, got a much-needed two points thanks to some key shootout saves and the eventual deciding shootout goal from Martin Necas, but also let another Central Division contender steal a point after an inability to close things out in the third frame.
Former Florida Panther Vincent Trocheck opened the scoring for Carolina in the first period, and defenseman Jake Bean scored the first goal of his NHL career early in the third to make it 2-0.