Hurricanes-Thrashers: Cam Ward, Carolina Earn Shutout Victory

Cam Ward stopped all 19 shots fired by the Atlanta Thrashers, and the Hurricanes marched to a 2-0 victory over the struggling Atlanta Thrashers.

Kari Lehtonen faced 41 shots, 22 of which were in the first period, and stopped 39 of them.

Both goaltenders were good, making terrific stops at all the right times. A pad save by Ward on Atlanta's Peverly late in the second period was a highlight-reel stop, and Lehtonen had several diving saves (plus some while on his back) on Hurricanes players such as Sergei Samsonov and Patrick Eaves.

The first period shots were 22 to four in favor of Carolina. The Hurricanes bombarded Atlanta throughout the period.

A hooking penalty to Eric Staal gave Atlanta a power play just seven minutes into the game, but a perfect pass from Chad LaRose gave Matt Cullen a breakaway.

Cullen's shot through Lehtonen's five hole was not stopped, and Carolina had a 1-0 lead. It was Carolina's second shorthanded goal of the year, their first coming just last Thursday against Tampa Bay by Chad LaRose.

Before last Thursday, the Hurricanes were the only NHL team not to have scored a shorthanded goal this season. Now they have two in two games.

Much later in the period, a pass from Matt Cullen, the 'Canes goal scorer, to Ray Whitney gave him a breakaway. The pass rolled off Whitney's stick a little, but he was able to catch up to it and fire it through Lehtonen's five hole (again) to give the Hurricanes a two-goal lead.

The Thrashers tried desperately to get back into the game, but never could.

During the final 90 seconds of the game, Atlanta attempted to pull Lehtonen for an extra attacker several times, but never succeeded in doing so before Carolina regained control of the puck. In the end, Lehtonen never did manage to get to the bench.

Atlanta's next game is in Madison Square Garden next Tuesday for an 8:00 game against the New York Rangers. The Thrashers have currently lost four straight games, and are 4-6 in their last ten.

Carolina will head out to Vancouver, who has lost nine straight, for a 10:00 game Tuesday night. The game will start a three-game West Coast road streak, which will then go to San Jose and finish in Phoenix. The Hurricanes have won two straight, and are 4-1 in their last five (despite being 4-6 in their last ten games).