Chris Seward - cseward@newsobserver.com
The Canes' Joni Pitkanen (25) celebrates with teammates Ray Whitney (13) and Jussi Jokinen (36) after he scored what proved to be the game-winning goal against the Florida Panthers at the RBC Center.
RALEIGH -- After the Olympic break, after the NHL trade deadline, things may change for the Carolina Hurricanes and their lineup could take on a different look.
But for now, the Hurricanes are winning. As the Florida Panthers and others have learned, the Canes are a tough out.
With a 4-1 victory Tuesday over the Panthers, the Hurricanes now have won three straight and seven of their last nine. In fact, since the beginning of December, Carolina is 17-13-2 — not a great record, but enough to convince skeptics the Canes no longer should be considered one of the worst teams in the league, regardless of their overall record.
"We're battling hard every time we get on the ice," said defenseman Tim Gleason, who battled with Florida's Bryan Allen in the first period and later needed 12 stitches after taking a puck in the face in the second. "We're having fun. We have no pressure here. We're just going out and playing as hard as we can."
The Canes won Tuesday with goals from each of their three Finns — Jussi Jokinen, Joni Pitkanen and Tuomo Ruutu — and another from Matt Cullen, who also had two assists in another strong game. They won with some calm, solid play in net by Manny Legace, who stopped 19 of 20 shots and made some nice glove saves.
The Canes skated well, defended well in their zone. They killed off all three penalties and are now 30-for-31 on the penalty kill in the last eight games.
Nothing special. Just good, sound hockey.
"Fun to watch," said Legace, who made his second start since Cam Ward was sidelined late last week with a back injury. "It's taken a little time, but we're just believing in one another.
"You can see it. It shows in our play. Guys aren't afraid to let the other guy do his job. In makes the game easier when you believe in each other."
Jokinen won't be playing for Finland in the Vancouver Winter Games but pushed his point streak to seven games with a power-play goal early in the second for a 1-0 lead. Set up to the left of Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun, he popped in the rebound of an Eric Staal rebound for his team-leading 21st goal.
Pitkanen, who will play for the Finnish Olympic team, scored on a shot he probably should take more often. Open near the top of the right circle, he took a pass from Ray Whitney and unloaded a bomb that zipped under Vokoun's glove for a 2-1 lead.
Cory Stillman had tied the score 1-1 for the Panthers, who are struggling to score goals and have lost their last four. Slipping in on the backdoor, he slapped in a pass from Stephen Weiss for his 11th of the season.
Cullen's goal early in the third showed off the center's speed and elusiveness. Taking a pass Gleason on the left wing, Cullen cut across the slot, pulled the puck past a fallen Allen and beat Vokoun for his 12th.
Legace was briefly shaken up early in the third. With the Panthers on a power play, Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov slashed the goaltender during a scrum in front of the goal.
"He speared me right in the (groin)," Legace said.
Legace was down on the ice for a few moments, but soon bounced back up and stayed in net.
Ruutu, who scored an empty-netter with 1:14 left, was activated from injured reserve Tuesday and back in the lineup after missing 15 games with a shoulder injury. Another Finnish Olympian, he was a winger on the line centered by Brandon Sutter, who played his 100th NHL game.
"One more guy makes a big difference to your team," Canes coach Paul Maurice said.
The Canes have two more home games before the Olympic break, against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. They wish they had 10.
"There's more confidence in the room than there has been all year," Maurice said. "You'd like to keep playing."
TURNING POINT
With the score tied 1-1, the Canes' Joni Pitkanen never hesitated after taking a pass from Ray Whitney near the top of the right circle. A heavy slapshot gave Pitkanen his fourth goal of the season and the Canes the lead 13 minutes into the second period.
BURNING QUESTION
Is it true Carolina's Jussi Jokinen is not going to Vancouver with the Finnish Olympic team? Who made that mistake?
NUMBER TO KNOW
One. The number of power-play goals allowed by the Canes in the last eight games. Carolina has killed 30 of 31 penalties.
THREE STARS
1. Matt Cullen, Carolina. Goal, two assists for center.
2. Joni Pitkanen, Carolina. Goal, assist, plus-2 game.
3. Tim Gleason, Carolina. Another gritty game for defenseman.
