RALEIGH -- Jussi Jokinen scored the winning goal in the shootout and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Minnesota Wild 5-4 on Sunday in the RBC Center to end a 14-game winless streak.
The Hurricanes' second shooter in the shootout, Jokinen went to his backhand and lofted the puck above the glove of Niklas Backstrom. When Michael Leighton stopped Marek Zidlicky on the Wild's final chance, the Hurricanes had their first win since Oct. 9.
Leighton made 28 saves in his second start of the season and Ray Whitney, Jokinen, Joe Corvo and Brandon Sutter scored in regulation for Carolina, which blew two three-goal leads.
Robert Earl scored the first two goals of his career, John Scott added his first career goal and Antti Miettinen also scored for the Wild.
It was a costly victory for the Hurricanes. Three Carolina players left with injuries and did not return -- defenseman Joni Pitkanen (lower body), forward Scott Walker (upper body) and forward Stephane Yelle (lower body).
Minnesota 0 3 1 0 -- 4
Carolina 2 2 0 0 -- 5
Carolina won shootout 1-0
First Period--1, Carolina, Jokinen 4 (Ruutu, Cullen), 2:45. 2, Carolina, Corvo 3 (Rodney, Whitney), 17:49 (pp). Penalties--Walker, Car (cross-checking), 9:21 LaRose, Car (hooking), 15:02 Koivu, Min (tripping), 16:42 Miettinen, Min (hooking), 19:04.
Second Period--3, Carolina, Whitney 6 (Sutter, Corvo), 4:59 (pp). 4, Minnesota, Miettinen 2 (Burns, Brunette), 8:43. 5, Carolina, Sutter 4 (Whitney), 10:08 (pp). 6, Minnesota, Earl 1 (Koivu), 13:46. 7, Minnesota, Scott 1 (Johnsson, Nolan), 14:06. Penalties--Boogaard, Min (tripping), 4:48 Brunette, Min (holding), 5:39 Clutterbuck, Min (roughing), 9:58 Miettinen, Min (slashing), 10:29.
Third Period--8, Minnesota, Earl 2, 2:21. Penalties--Ruutu, Car (interference), 6:56.
Overtime--None. Penalties--None.
Shootout--Minnesota 0 (Miettinen NG, Koivu NG, Zidlicky NG), Carolina 1 (Ruutu NG, Jokinen G, Cullen NG).
Shots on Goal--Minnesota 6-17-5-4--32. Carolina 10-14-7-4--35. Power-play opportunities--Minnesota 0 of 3. Carolina 3 of 6.
Goalies--Minnesota, Backstrom 7-8-2 (35 shots-31 saves). Carolina, Leighton 1-2-0 (32-28).
A--12,194 (18,680). T--2:40. Referees--Francois St. Laurent, Wes McCauley. Linesmen--Pierre Champoux, Scott Cherrey.
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