Samsonov stuns Flyers

Sergei Samsonov scores in overtime to beat Philly and end Carolina's three-game losing streak

PHILADELPHIA -- Sergei Samsonov ended the Carolina Hurricanes' three-game losing streak, scoring with 1:07 left in overtime for a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers before a crowd of 19,587 at the Wachovia Center Friday.

Samsonov collected Matt Cullen's pass off the left side boards, beat out the defenders in the neutral zone along the left side of the ice, then cut across the net and wristed the puck past goalie Martin Biron's glove side.

"We had some speed going in the neutral zone," Samsonov said of his second goal of the season. "I saw a little bit of an opening. I tried to cut to the net."

The Flyers entered the game on a six-game win streak.

The Canes (12-10-2) trailed early, even though they outshot the Flyers in the first period.

Early in the first period, Carolina defender Niclas Wallin was sent to the box for hooking and 25 seconds later, the Flyers' Jeff Carter passed from the top of the left circle down to Joffrey Lupul, who extended his stick in front of goal and put the puck in on his team's first shot of the game at 4:07.

The puck appeared to bounce over defenseman Joni Pitkanen's stick on the way into the net.

Carolina goaltender Cam Ward had 24 saves in the game and prevented things from getting out of hand early in the second period, when the Flyers came out strong. The Canes outshot the Flyers 30-26 in the game, despite the Flyers' 14-5 advantage in the second period.

"I thought both goal tenders played really well," said Carolina coach Peter Laviolette. "There was some good chances both ways."

The Flyers nearly took a two-goal lead in the second period, but Mike Richards' goal was called off because there were too many men on the ice.

Flyers head coach John Stevens called that play "the one that stung us."

"Those are the details of the game," he said. "We had some great opportunities that we didn't capitalize on, and we let them hang around and because of that they end up winning the hockey game."

The momentum shifted afterward.

"We [refocused] and tried to get back in the game with better puck movement," Laviolette said. "We were a little careless with turnovers."

Carolina surged with two goals over a span of 1:06.

First, at the 15:00 mark, Patrick Dwyer was credited with his first NHL goal. Pitkanen had fired from the left wing, but the puck apparently touched Dwyer, in front of the net, on the way in.

Then, Tuomo Ruutu fired and scored from the right wing. Canes center Eric Staal and Samsonov moved the puck up from the right corner to Ruutu at the 16:06 mark.

"It's about momentum," said Staal, talking about the Canes' second two-goal offensive spurt in three games. "The scheme is about momentum. When you get in on the offense you get cycling. You get a couple good shifts where guys are moving. The next line follows it up. It builds that momentum and builds that energy. We've gotta have more of that support for each other in the offensive zone. And then when we get the opportunities, cash them in."

But the Flyers (11-7-4) tied the game shortly thereafter on another power play.

A trio of Flyers moved up the right wing and Lupul returned the favor to Carter, passing to center, where Carter had Ward off balance. He put the puck in the net at the 19:14 mark.

"I thought we battled," Samsonov said. "It wasn't pretty at times. I think Cam kept us in the game. ... After that I think we played a little bit better. We played with consistency. We got one. We got two points. We got what we needed."