Associated Press
2/13/2007 9:44:40 PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Considering their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Carolina Hurricanes know they can't let any points get away if they want to defend their Stanley Cup title.
On Tuesday night, that meant avoiding a letdown against the Western Conference's last-place team.
Scott Walker scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and David Tanabe had two assists to lead the Hurricanes past the Los Angeles Kings 2-1, giving Carolina a needed win as it enters a key stretch of the schedule.
Ray Whitney also scored for the Hurricanes. Cam Ward made 21 saves and didn't face much pressure in earning a relatively easy win.
''Right now you can't worry about who you're catching or who's catching you,'' said Walker, who scored his 17th goal of the season. ''You've got to worry about the team you're playing and get the two points. That's what we focused on.''
The Hurricanes play three of their next four at home, starting Thursday against the New York Rangers - who are behind the Hurricanes. They also play Southeast Division-leading Atlanta and Philadelphia, the NHL's last-place team.
''Every two points is big for us,'' Ward said.
Alexander Frolov scored for the Kings, who have lost 13 of 16.
With the score tied 1-1, Walker took a pass from Josef Vasicek along the boards and curled toward the middle of the zone. With no Kings defender hanging with him, Walker found a lane and took a long shot from beyond the circles that slipped by goalie Sean Burke at 14:46 of the second.
The Kings looked set for a good start when Carolina's Justin Williams was given a four-minute penalty for high-sticking Jamie Lundmark just 13 seconds in. But the Kings managed only one shot with the advantage, the beginning of an anemic offensive night.
Los Angeles managed just 10 shots in the first two periods. And when the Kings got a scoring chance - as when Dustin Brown corralled a mishandled puck by Frantisek Kaberle along the boards for a breakaway chance - they couldn't take advantage.
''That's why we're in the predicament where're in,'' Kings coach Marc Crawford said. ''We're learning how to be a good team. When you're a good team, you find a way to scrap, fight and claw away at good teams.
''Carolina played well. They didn't make a lot of mistakes. We didn't play a spirited enough game.''
Ward had a solid bounceback performance after allowing three goals on eight shots against Minnesota on Saturday before being pulled for John Grahame. He gave up only Frolov's redirection goal on a power play, and stopped a clear shot from Derek Armstrong to preserve the lead in the final seconds.
FULL STORY
2/13/2007 9:44:40 PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Considering their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Carolina Hurricanes know they can't let any points get away if they want to defend their Stanley Cup title.
On Tuesday night, that meant avoiding a letdown against the Western Conference's last-place team.
Scott Walker scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and David Tanabe had two assists to lead the Hurricanes past the Los Angeles Kings 2-1, giving Carolina a needed win as it enters a key stretch of the schedule.
Ray Whitney also scored for the Hurricanes. Cam Ward made 21 saves and didn't face much pressure in earning a relatively easy win.
''Right now you can't worry about who you're catching or who's catching you,'' said Walker, who scored his 17th goal of the season. ''You've got to worry about the team you're playing and get the two points. That's what we focused on.''
The Hurricanes play three of their next four at home, starting Thursday against the New York Rangers - who are behind the Hurricanes. They also play Southeast Division-leading Atlanta and Philadelphia, the NHL's last-place team.
''Every two points is big for us,'' Ward said.
Alexander Frolov scored for the Kings, who have lost 13 of 16.
With the score tied 1-1, Walker took a pass from Josef Vasicek along the boards and curled toward the middle of the zone. With no Kings defender hanging with him, Walker found a lane and took a long shot from beyond the circles that slipped by goalie Sean Burke at 14:46 of the second.
The Kings looked set for a good start when Carolina's Justin Williams was given a four-minute penalty for high-sticking Jamie Lundmark just 13 seconds in. But the Kings managed only one shot with the advantage, the beginning of an anemic offensive night.
Los Angeles managed just 10 shots in the first two periods. And when the Kings got a scoring chance - as when Dustin Brown corralled a mishandled puck by Frantisek Kaberle along the boards for a breakaway chance - they couldn't take advantage.
''That's why we're in the predicament where're in,'' Kings coach Marc Crawford said. ''We're learning how to be a good team. When you're a good team, you find a way to scrap, fight and claw away at good teams.
''Carolina played well. They didn't make a lot of mistakes. We didn't play a spirited enough game.''
Ward had a solid bounceback performance after allowing three goals on eight shots against Minnesota on Saturday before being pulled for John Grahame. He gave up only Frolov's redirection goal on a power play, and stopped a clear shot from Derek Armstrong to preserve the lead in the final seconds.
FULL STORY
