Panthers blank Hurricanes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Nick Bjugstad scored 21 seconds into the game and a pair of Florida goaltenders combined to shut out the Carolina Hurricanes in the Panthers' 1-0 win.
About halfway through the game, Roberto Luongo was forced to exit with an upper-body injury after making 11 saves. Al Montoya came in to relieve him, and he stopped all 22 shots sent his way.
Cam Ward made 27 saves on 28 shots for Carolina.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brandon Pirri and Jonathan Huberdeau were credited with assists on the lone goal.
About halfway through the game, Luongo was forced to make a sprawling glove save on Victor Rask who got in behind the defense. The backhand attempt was stopped to preserve the 1-0 lead, but at the next timeout, Luongo left the game.
Montoya was tested quickly when Carolina went on the power play when play resumed. He made one save on the power play, and he faced four more in the period before finally getting a break at the second intermission.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"He's played so well for us, so hopefully it's something minor," Montoya said of Luongo.
Ward was under siege from the opening faceoff. He faced two shots just 20 seconds into the game, and the third decided the contest when Bjugstad snuck the loose puck past the netminder for his eighth of the season.
"We figured out a way to win, that's the main thing," said Bjugstad after the Panthers earned points for the third time in four games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}On the other end of the ice, Florida's defense shut down the Carolina attack. The Hurricanes were only able to get six shots on Luongo in the first period while Ward faced 15.
In the final period, the Hurricanes overwhelmed the Panthers, but they were still unable to find the back of the net. Brian Campbell's sliding play broke up a Carolina 2-on-1 shorthanded breakaway that could have tied the game, helping to send the Hurricanes to their third straight loss and sixth in seven games.
Montoya was peppered with shots in a complete reversal of the first period. While Ward only faced five shots, Montoya had to make 17 saves, including two in the closing minutes with the extra attacker on the ice for Carolina.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We had more than enough chances to get one, maybe two (goals), but couldn't execute," Hurricanes center Jeff Skinner said.
Game Notes
Campbell has played in 243 consecutive games ... The Panthers broke a three- game losing streak against Carolina ... Bjugstad has six goals in his last six games.