Hurricanes 4, Lightning 3
Erik Cole tallied twice and captain Eric Staal collected a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes held on for a 4-3 road victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday in the opener of a home-and-home set between the Southeast Division rivals.
All-Star rookie Jeff Skinner added his 26th tally of the season and defenseman Joni Pitkanen notched a pair of assists for Carolina (35-29-10), which has won three in a row and four of its last five. The Hurricanes remained three points behind the eighth-place Buffalo Sabres (37-28-9), who recorded a 4-2 triumph over the Florida Panthers earlier on Friday.
With Steven Stamkos serving a hooking penalty, Cole gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 advantage just 8:23 into the second period. Cole then netted his 22nd of the season and third in as many games at 6:50 of the third period to give Cam Ward some breathing room.
Ward apparently needed it as he permitted goals to captain Vincent Lecavalier and Simon Gagne in a 52-second span in the third period as the Lightning trimmed the deficit back to one at 4-3.
The 2006 Conn Smythe Trophy winner did not yield again and finished with 18 saves to improve to 16-9-2 in his career against the Lightning.
Dwayne Roloson finished with 35 saves for Tampa Bay (39-24-11), which has dropped four in a row and 10 of 12 (2-6-4).