Ed Jovanovski got a quality shot on goal for the Panthers with three minutes gone, but nobody could put the rebound home.
Ex-Panther defenseman Bryan Allen boarded Tomas Fleischmann, putting Florida on the man advantage with five mimutes gone. One minute into the power play, Jason Garrison put a one timer past Cam Ward from 35-feet away for his 10th goal of the season to tie the game at two. Assists were awarded to Mikael Samuelsson and Ed Jovanovski, his second of the night.
Jussi Jokinen hit Kris Versteeg into the boards, head first. Versteeg lay face down on the ice for a minute before skating off, leaving the Cats a man up for another power play. Most of the ensuing two minutes were spent with the Panthers skating up and down the ice, chasing the loose puck as Carolina effectively killed the penalty.
Carolina put their first shot on goal with ten minutes gone in the period, with Tuomo Ruutu putting the shot into Jose Theodore’s chest pad.
Versteeg had a great chance with the puck and a wide open net, but whiffed on the puck and slashed Chad LaRose in the process. The following penalty kill saw the Canes get two shots on goal while the Panthers cleared it three times.
Krys Barch and Mike Santorelli snapped off two quick shots on goal, but neither connected.
Kris Versteeg and the first line came into the Carolina zone on a three on one with 15 seconds left, but Versteeg put the puck off the post, and the game goes on to the extra frame.
Hits: Panthers, 29-19
Blocked Shots: Panthers, 18-13
Faceoffs: Hurricanes, 37-27
Shots On Goal: Hurricanes, 25-22
Score: Panthers 2, Hurricanes 2