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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ATLANTA (AP) -- Carolina goalie Arturs Irbe has played in 39
straight games and needs a rest at the All-Star break. The rest is
probably even more important to the injury-riddled Atlanta
Thrashers.
Irbe stopped 20 shots and Rod Brind'Amour, Kevin Hatcher and
Martin Gelinas scored, leading the Hurricanes to a 3-1 victory over
the Thrashers on Thursday night.
Irbe had a shutout until Donald Audette scored on a breakaway
with 8:26 to play. Irbe carried the Hurricanes early, which helped
the Carolina skaters shake off the effects of a game the night
before, a 4-3 loss to Toronto.
"We started slow, but he held us in there," Ron Francis said.
"If he does get tired, I haven't seen it yet."
The Hurricanes haven't used another goalie since Nov. 3 and have
ridden the play of Irbe back into contention for a playoff spot in
the Eastern Conference. Carolina goes into the break with a 10-4-2
record over its last 16 games.
"He made some big saves, he's sharp, he's strong, he's feeling
great right now," coach Paul Maurice said. "There's no question
we're going to have to play our backup goaltenders next month."
The Thrashers, meanwhile, lost two more players to injury on
Thursday. Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle broke his foot during a
morning practice and defenseman Gord Murphy broke his thumb in the
loss to the Hurricanes.
"It's a very tough time for our hockey club," said Atlanta
head coach Curt Fraser, whose injury-racked team has one win in its
last 17 games. "We want to win, but we have too many pieces
missing."
The Thrashers had 16 players injured in January and are second
to Montreal in man-games lost to injury.
After a scoreless first period, Carolina made it 1-0 in the
second when Brind'Amour pushed aside a defender in front of the
goal and whipped a shot past goalie Damian Rhodes. It was the 10th
goal for Brind'Amour, who has points in 11 of the last 13 games.
Carolina dominated play in the second period by outshooting
Atlanta 14-4. The Hurricanes forechecked the Thrashers relentlessly
and kept play at the Atlanta end for long stretches. The strong
defense of Gord Murphy and Yannick Tremblay helped the Thrashers
hold off Carolina and kill three Hurricanes power plays.
Carolina didn't waste the next power-play opportunity, which
came in the third period. Hatcher scored his second goal of the
season when his shot from the right boards bounced off goalie
Damian Rhodes' left arm and dribbled into the net.
It took just another 43 seconds to make it 3-0. Gelinas took the
puck along the left boards, skated toward the net, and then crossed
in front before flicking a quick shot past Rhodes. It was Gelinas'
18th goal of the season.
Audette broke the shutout with his 25th goal of the season. That
gave him 59 points, which tied a career high.
Game notes
Kaberle broke his foot during a Thursday morning
practice when he pivoted on his skate. He was hit by a puck on the
foot in Monday's win over the Rangers. ... Murphy, who was out 10
months following shoulder surgery, broke his thumb in the third
period. ... The Hurricanes are unbeaten (18-0-1) when leading after
two periods.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Carolina Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
RECAPS
Montreal 3
Boston 0
Philadelphia 2
NY Islanders 0
Washington 5
Toronto 4
Carolina 3
Atlanta 1
Tampa Bay 4
Buffalo 2
Columbus 2
St. Louis 2
Calgary 5
Chicago 3
Anaheim 4
Phoenix 2
Dallas 4
San Jose 2
Vancouver 5
Colorado 3
Nashville 6
Los Angeles 4
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