ATLANTA - Eric Staal scored his 35th goal and Sergei Samsonov added a goal and an assist in the Carolina Hurricanes' 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on tonight.
Since February 21st, Carolina has won 10 of 12, including three victories over the Thrashers.
The Southeast Division-leading Hurricanes, who improved to 5-1-1 against Atlanta this season, led 3-0 after Staal beat goaltender Johan Hedberg with a wrister from the slot 13:33 into the first period.
Carolina goaltender Cam Ward stopped 31 of 34 shots after making his 13th straight start.
Carolina led 3-0 by the 13:33 mark of the first period, ending with Staal's wrister from the slot.
Samsonov made it 2-0 with his 13th goal less than 7 minutes before Staal scored. Hedberg appeared to be screened from seeing Samsonov's shot, a wrister that beat him from outside the top of the right circle.
Atlanta has won just two of its past 15 games. Slava Kozlov had a goal, his 17th, in the final minute and assisted on Bryan Little's fifth goal in the second. Three minutes after Little swept the puck past Ward, defenseman Steve McCarthy added his first goal to make it 4-2 at the 4:56 of the period.
The Hurricanes improved to 12-3-1 since team captain Rod Brind'Amour suffered a season-ending knee injury last month. Over the past 16 games, Staal has 26 points, including eight goals, to lead the NHL since Feb. 14.
Staal, who was the MVP of the All-Star Game two months ago in Atlanta, has six goals and six assists against the Thrashers.
Erik Cole scored his 21st goal, getting an assist from Samsonov, to give the Hurricanes a 5-2 lead with 5:09 remaining.
Trevor Letowski's sixth goal, a wrister from the right circle, opened the scoring 4:04 into the first.
Carolina reached 40 wins for the third straight season
Friday
May 2nd, 2025
4:24PM
