Panthers end Canes' streak

SUNRISE, Fla. -- It couldn't last forever. Nothing does.

The Carolina Hurricanes realized their winning streak would end at some point, and it did Saturday. But the Canes didn't expect it to end because of some sloppy, ineffective play.

The Florida Panthers ended Carolina's run of seven straight wins, aggressively taking charge to grab a two-goal lead early in the game and then holding on to beat the Hurricanes 4-1.

The Canes' Jussi Jokinen scored with 12:02 to play in regulation, tipping in the rebound of a Brandon Sutter shot. But Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun turned back every other threat, and the Hurricanes came up empty on all seven power plays, including 1:42 of a two-man advantage in the second period.

It was an important win for the Panthers, who swept the Canes in three games this season at BankAtlantic Center, and a costly loss for the Hurricanes. Carolina, arguably the hottest team in the league after surging to win 11 of its last 13 games, trailed the Panthers and New York Islanders by one point in the Eastern Conference standings and could have jumped to 12th place.

The Panthers, active and assertive early, took a 2-0 lead after a first period in which most of the play was in the Carolina end. Michael Frolik banged a short shot past Justin Peters at 13:58 when defenseman Joni Pitkanen couldn't control the puck, and Kamil Kreps (two goals) scored late in the period on a shot from the slot after a turnover by Canes defenseman Alex Picard.

"It took a little while to wake up," Hurricanes defenseman Brian Pothier said. "We stood around and watched the first period."

Cory Stillman, who always seems to score against his old team, knocked in a clincher with 3:30 left, then assisted on Kreps' empty-netter.

"I felt pretty comfortable," Peters said. "To give up two early was a big test for me. But I felt I was able to stay with it and stay strong and give my team a chance. That third goal obviously was a tough one when you're trying to come back.

"We've just got to keep taking the same approach. We've had success, and we have to keep believing in what we're doing."

Peters was making his fourth start, and the rookie had put up some impressive numbers: a 1.34 goals-against average and .957 save percentage. But the Panthers tested him early, outshooting the Canes 15-6 in the first period.

The Hurricanes had the two-man advantage midway through the second period, and coach Paul Maurice used his timeout after Carolina squandered most of the first minute of the 5-on-3. Ray Whitney nearly scored after the timeout, but the Panthers killed off the penalties to earn a big cheer from their fans.

"We wanted the puck to get across and get moved quicker ... But it was just moved too slowly," Maurice said. "It's a 5-on-3, and especially when the other team gets too many men on the ice, it's usually deflating. If we can make it 2-1 in the second period we've got our legs and they tighten up."

Not that it was the Hurricanes' only missed opportunity. Carolina was 0-for-6 on the power play in the first two periods. Erik Cole's breakaway early in the third resulted in a slashing penalty against the Panthers, but Florida snuffed out that threat, too.

Jokinen finally broke through for his team-leading 25th goal, tipping the puck up and over Vokoun. The Canes had 16 third-period shots, but couldn't get closer.

"We battled back and got it to 2-1 and had some really good chances but that 3-1 (goal) pretty much killed us," Jokinen said. "(5-on-3) we had a post (by Whitney) and good chances, but that's obviously pretty much the difference in the game."

The whistle-happy referees called nine penalties in the opening period, including one with 52.5 seconds left that had Whitney complaining. Whitney was penalized for interference after a collision - with teammate Brian Pothier.

The nearest Panther was a few feet away from Whitney and Pothier, perhaps evidence that the harder working team was also getting the benefit of the calls.

Defenseman Jay Harrison did win a fight against the Panthers' Nick Tarnasky, getting in the best blows, but that was about all the Canes won.

The Panthers appeared to be imploding before the Olympic break, going 0-5-1, and then were beaten 4-2 by the Atlanta Thrashers in their first game after the break. But Florida hammered the Philadelphia Flyers 7-4 at home on Wednesday as David Booth, out much of the season with a concussion, had a goal and three assists.

The Hurricanes, who play the Thrashers in Atlanta today, had whipped the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators after the break and had a 29-12 scoring edge in the seven-game win streak that was their longest of the season.

But they were playing from behind all of Saturday's game and were beaten to the puck by the Panthers too many times.

"Obviously this was a big game for us," Jokinen said. "But if we win tomorrow we'll be right back in it. If we beat (the Thrashers) we're right back in the hunt."

The Canes now have 18 games left in the regular season, but likely can't undo the damage from the first 18 - the 14-game winless streak and 2-12-4 start. And certainly not playing like they did Saturday.