NHL: Vokoun makes 31 saves for second straight shutout

Deseret News

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 8:28 p.m. MST

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SUNRISE, Fla. — Tomas Vokoun made 31 saves for his second straight shutout, Steven Reinprecht opened the scoring early in the third period, and Florida extended Carolina's winless streak to 10 games with a 3-0 victory Wednesday night.

Vokoun beat St. Louis 4-0 on Saturday.

Cory Stillman added a power-play goal and an assist, and Reinprecht also had an assist. Defenseman Bryan Allen scored an empty-net goal with 2:01 left.

Cam Ward stopped 22 shots for Carolina, 0-6-0 in the road.

The Panthers have won three straight after opening 2-7-1.

Carolina, 0-7-3 during its losing streak, hasn't won since beating Florida 7-2 on Oct. 9 in its fourth game of the season.

The Hurricanes were shut out for the third time this season. They have scored two goals or less in 11 of their 14 games.

Reinprecht scored his ninth goal of the season when Stillman's wrist shot bounced off his leg and through Ward's pads. Stillman made it 2-0 at 13:46 when he tipped Bryan McCabe's slap shot from the point.

Carolina dominated the first period, outshooting Florida 21-4. It was the Hurricanes' most shots in any period this season.

Carolina had three power plays in a span of 7:56 in the period, but failed to score. The Hurricanes' best chance came when Sergei Samsonov hit the right post with a shot from close range.

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Florida controlled play in the second period, thanks in part to four Carolina penalties in a span of 8:55. Stephen Weiss hit the post on a backhand off a rebound.

NOTES: Carolina C Eric Staal sat out the game because of an upper-body injury, snapping his streak of consecutive games at 349. It was the second-longest active streak in the NHL behind Calgary D Jay Bouwmeester's 354-game run. ... Carolina's previous high for shots in a period this season was 20 in the second period Saturday in a 5-1 loss at Philadelphia. ... Carolina has seven points through 14 games, matching the worst start in franchise history, set in 1992-93 and 1993-94. ... Florida recalled C Jeff Taffe from Rochester of the AHL.