Canes snag first win of season in shootout

By Bud L. Ellis

It took five extra minutes of overtime and a shootout, but the Carolina Hurricanes finally found their way into the victory column.

Sergei Samsonov and Tuomo Ruutu scored in the shootout, and goalie Cam Ward made 29 saves as the Hurricanes snapped a season-opening two-game losing streak Tuesday, beating Tampa Bay 2-1 in Raleigh for the Canes’ first victory of the season.

For a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals a year ago, the victory erased some of the angst from two ugly season-opening losses last weekend, games Carolina lost by a combined 9-2 score.

But Carolina got it done Tuesday, opening a key early stretch of Southeast Division contest with a victory.

Jussi Jokinen scored for Carolina in the first period, converting on a power play. Tampa Bay tied the game in the second period, but the Canes’ defense held the Lightning at bay the rest of the way.

–30–

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 9:56 pm by bud

Tags: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Jussi Jokinen, National Hockey League, Sergei Samsonov, Southeast Division, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tuomo Ruutu