Ward stellar in 5-1 win

NEW YORK -- This time, it was Cam Ward's turn.

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist had been stellar in three games against the Carolina Hurricanes this season, allowing a single regulation goal in each of those games.

But in a 25-second span early in the first period, Carolina finally cracked Lundqvist's armor, the first strikes in a 5-1 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden Wednesday.

In handing the Rangers their fourth consecutive loss, the Hurricanes won by the same score in consecutive games; They're now 3-1-0 since star center Eric Staal was named captain four games back.

Back-to-back goals from Patrick Dwyer and Staal gave Ward early breathing room. Staal and wing Sergei Samsonov each scored twice in the game.

On the first goal, Carolina defenseman Joni Pitkanen fired a blast from the left wing. Dwyer was among three Hurricanes in front of the net and he guided it in at 3:11.

On the next shift, Staal took an angle from the corner on Lundqvist, the puck grazing the goalie's left leg on the way in.

"It was deflating for their team," Staal said. "The crowd gets on them and their team starts pressing a little bit more."

Wednesday morning, Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said peppering Lundqvist with a "volume" of shots would be key to getting past the goalie, but even when the Hurricanes fired on Lundqvist 33 times on Dec. 21, they only had a goal to show for it in the loss.

"You try not to think about that," Samsonov said. "It seems like the plays that we made, the puck went in. A couple of them I really don't think [Lundqvist] had much of a chance. A couple of them were bounces and tips so it's nice when goals like that go in."

Ward was stellar, finishing the night with 37 saves.

Perhaps none were bigger than his behind-the-back swat of a loose puck early in the third period, preserving a two-goal lead.

The Hurricanes (17-28-7) controlled momentum in the first period, out-shooting the Rangers 9-4.

Ward said that might have been the Hurricanes' best periods all season.

"We didn't give them many opportunities, we took care of our own zone, and we got offensive chances," Ward said.

Staal's brother Marc, a Rangers defenseman, set up New York's first goal, firing from the left wing, with wing Ryan Callahan tipping it in at 1:24 in the second period.

The Hurricanes wasted no time getting their two-goal lead back, with Samsonov scoring the third tip-in goal of the game, with defenseman Andrew Alberts getting the assist.

The Rangers (24-23-7) fired 22 shots at Ward in the period, but got only one past.

"The score is what it is because he is that good," Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said. "He made some really good saves in there tight; especially in the second period when they had the two power plays, and that really gave them some life. He was the difference in the second period."

The Rangers continued their recent power play struggles, getting nothing out of four chances and nearly giving up a short-handed goal to Dwyer in the second period.

The Hurricanes took a 4-1 lead on Samsonov's second goal of the game, a shot from the left circle at 7:51 immediately after a big save from Ward.

Staal scored his second goal of the game on a two-man advantage in the third period, teeing up a pass from Pitkanen at 14:42.

"It just goes to show the character we have on this team," Ward said. "It has not been an easy season. Obviously we're one of the last place teams in the league, but guys continue to come to the rink willing to work hard and better ourselves."

TURNING POINT

Less than a minutes after the Rangers cut the Hurricanes' lead to 2-1, Carolina's Sergei Samsonov takes the two-goal lead right back at 2:05 in the second.

BURNING QUESTION

Can the Hurricanes continue the momentum they had on special teams against the Rangers, killing four penalties and scoring two power play goals?

NUMBER TO KNOW

Seconds it took for the Hurricanes to score twice early in the first period and take control of the game.

N&O'S THREE STARS

1. Eric Staal, Hurricanes. Stays hot with a pair of goals.

2. Cam Ward, Hurricanes. Kept his team in front with 37 saves, including 21 in the second period.

3. Sergei Samsonov, Hurricanes. A pair of goals.