Hurricanes' Peters makes impressive debut in net

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Justin Peters stood patiently outside the Carolina Hurricanes' locker room Saturday night in Nassau Coliseum, waiting on a TV interview to begin as the crew fumbled with the lights and the camera.

Peters took a few deep breaths. He had a few extra seconds to reflect on his NHL debut, on a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders, the sweat still dripping from his forehead.

Moments later, the interview began. Soon, the sweat was mixed with a few tears.

"It feels pretty special right now," he said. "I've worked really hard for an opportunity like this.

"My family was here, my brother. ... Emotions are getting the best of me right now."

Emotions got the best of him but not the Islanders, who now have lost seven straight. The Isles put 35 shots on net but sent the puck past Peters just once, on a shorthanded goal by Frans Nielsen in the second period.

Peters had a hand in the goal, too. Coming out of the crease to play the puck, he knocked it into the skates of defenseman Joni Pitkanen. The Islanders' Blake Comeau grabbed it, wheeled and passed to Nielsen for the shot.

But that was the only glaring mistake by Peters, who was recalled Friday from the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League to back up Manny Legace. And with Cam Ward out indefinitely with a back problem - Ward is scheduled to see a specialist today - Peters should be getting more work.

"He played very solid," Legace said. "I'm sure he was a little nervous, but he controlled things very well and made some big saves."

Few were bigger than a save early in the third period - Peters' moment of truth in his first NHL game. With the Canes leading 2-1, the Islanders suddenly shook Comeau loose on a breakaway.

But Peters was patient. He outwaited Comeau, who finally decided on a forehand shot that Peters easily handled.

Pitkanen gave the Canes breathing room with a minute left, stealing the puck near the Carolina blue line as Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro was trying to skate off for a sixth attacker and slinging it into the open net.

Soon, the Canes were lining up to bump helmets with Peters, 1-0 in the NHL, while his parents and little brother celebrated in the stands.

Few seemed happier about Peters getting the victory than Patrick Dwyer, Brett Carson, Zach Boychuk, Steven Goertzen and Brandon Sutter, who all started the season in Albany. It's a tight bunch.

"Great for him," Dwyer said. "He's a stand-up guy who will do anything for you."

Boychuk was reassigned Sunday to the River Rats. Called up Friday, Boychuk had an assist in the 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres that night and another Saturday on Dwyer's goal at 15:36 of the second that gave the Canes a 2-1 lead Peters would safely protect.

Peters, 23, is 18-13-2 with the Rats this season, with a 2.55 goals-against average and .916 save percentage. The Blythe, Ontario, native, a second-round pick by the Hurricanes in 2004, played last month in the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic.

Hours before Saturday's game, Canes coach Paul Maurice talked of Peters and of the goaltending work he had done with assistant coach Tom Barrasso.

Asked Peters' strengths as a goalie, Maurice said, "His athleticism. Very strong and very quick. Tom's worked with him on his technique, on his squareness to the puck and on rebound control, which will be critical for him."

Maurice said he expected the Canes to play hard for Peters, to do all they could to make his debut a good one. The Canes, in turn, blocked 23 shots, killed off five Islanders power plays and gave Peters plenty of help.

"He's real well-liked, and that matters," Maurice said. "He's got a great work ethic, and everybody's pulling for him."

And Peters went out and did the rest, did his job.