In Raleigh Sunday, the Carolina Hurricanes returned to .500 hockey with a 1-0 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Cam Ward – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Cam Ward made 30 saves to get the shutout and win as the Canes continue to play solid hockey despite the record.
“We’re competing,” Ward said. “I don’t think it’s anything magical. It’s just coming ready to play. It feels like we’ve been on the road forever. When you come home, guys are excited and they want to perform well in this building.”
Phillip Di Giuseppe scored his first goal of the season with 1:26 gone in the extra session.
“I tried shooting it quick,” said Di Giuseppe, playing his fourth game since being recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League. “It was right on the ice. I don’t score too many of those, so maybe I will start shooting them.”
The goal was not without controversy as the Bolts contended there was interference on Ben Bishop in the Lightning net.
WATCH: All Lightning vs. Hurricanes highlightsÂ
“Intention has nothing to do with it,” Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper said. “[Viktor Stalberg] interfered with him. It’s called incidental contact. He kicks the stick between Bishop’s legs, and the puck goes right there. He wasn’t given a chance to make the save. He didn’t. I’m blown away.”
Video review confirmed the goal and absence of interference.
“Lately whenever I get a shot, I’m kind of hoping it goes in, looking if it’s going to squeak in. But that one, I kind of shot it not expecting it (to go in). So it was nice to get that one,” Di Giuseppe said.
Bishop had 29 saves in the loss as the Lightning continue to struggle with five losses in the last six games.
“We still need to find a way to score. We need to get different results offensively. We’ve got to find a way to bear down. We’ve got to get a little bit more in that net-front presence. We have to take our turn at the net,” Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters said of his team’s efforts andresults.
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