Team Effort Leads ‘Canes Past Thrashers

RALEIGH– In a battle for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes came away with a huge 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Saturday night at the RBC Center. In a game that featured two evenly matched teams, the ‘Canes finished on top thanks to an Erik Cole’s game-winner just 2:48 into OT.

The Thrashers came into tonight one point ahead of the Hurricanes in the standings, but failed to retain their slim lead against their division rival. Since the game went into overtime, both Atlanta and Carolina are now tied with 58 points apiece. The Hurricanes holds a slight advantage having played two less games than the Thrashers.

Saturday’s win required a team effort from the Hurricanes, and Paul Maurice’s squad was up to the task. Along with Cole, Eric Staal, Brandon Sutter, and Jiri Tlusty all chipped in a goal apiece. By the end of the contest, ten Hurricanes registered at least a point.

“I thought we collectively played well tonight,” Cole said. “When we play like that we are a pretty tough team to play against.”

“They were ready, but so were we,” added Sutter. “It was back and forth but we managed to fight for the two points.”

Tlusty, who scored on a scorching wrist shot in the third period, credits the team’s overall mentality for tonight’s victory.

“Every single game for us is like a playoff game,” he said. “I think the whole team did a great job.”

Like his players, Maurice recognized a solid team effort as the reason for their victory, specifically the performance of the players up front.

“Our forwards as a group worked a lot harder and better tonight,” said the ‘Canes bench boss. “They gave our defense a chance to be better.”

The Hurricanes forward corps did a fantastic job all game cycling the puck and retaining possession in the offensive zone. While Carolina failed to convert on all but one power play (including a two-minute 5-on-3), their effectiveness during even strength play made the difference. Both teams registered 37 shots on goal, but the Hurricanes created more quality chances. This can be attributed to their superior breakouts, passing, and number of second chance opportunities.

Down 3-2 with the goalie pulled late in the third, the Thrashers tied the game courtesy of a Zach Bogosian slap shot. While the Hurricanes eventually prevailed, Atlanta was able to steal a point in the standings. As the playoff race gets even closer, the resiliency the Thrashers displayed late in the game can make a difference down the stretch.

“It was nice to take the game into overtime,” Bogosian said. “We’ll take the point, but it’s not enough. A loss is a loss.”

A team that is struggling offensively, the Thrashers have failed to score more than three goals in a game in 13 straight contests. The frustration is beginning to mount for the young team, who have now lost 10 of their last 12 games. The anger was evident midway though the third period when Dustin Byfuglien clubbed his stick repeatedly on the boards following a failed power play.

Despite the recent slide, Thrashers coach Craig Ramsey remains optimistic about his team’s playoff chances. Ramsey, who is in the midst of his first year behind the bench in Atlanta, highlighted the reasons for his team’s offensive woes following the game.

“Two things. One, win more battles. Second, throw the darn [puck] at the net,” Ramsey said. “Those are definitely fixable errors.”

The Hurricanes look to take sole possession of eighth place in the East on Tuesday when they travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils.