CAROLINA HOLDS OFF PENGUINS FOR 6-2 WIN

RALEIGH, N.C. – Carolina held off the Penguins’ comeback attempt Saturday night for a 6-2 triumph.

A wide-open Justin Williams scored with 7:09 left in the first period on a 5-on-3 power play to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 edge.

Ray Whitney made it 2-0 with 2:19 on the clock. Alone in the slot, he one-timed the puck past Jocelyn Thibault.

Rod Brind’Amour made it 3-0 just 1:29 into the second period with a power-play goal.

John LeClair scored his first goal of the year 3:18 into the second period. Jarkko Ruutu flipped the puck to LeClair, who tipped it past Cam Ward to cut the Penguins’ deficit to 3-1.

Mark Recchi rifled a shot past Ward with 3:18 left on the clock to make it a 3-2 game. Nils Ekman and Dominic Moore assisted on the goal for the Penguins.

With 12:00 remaining in the contest, Eric Belanger feathered a puck through Thibault for a 4-2 Hurricanes advantage.

Craig Adams added an empty-net goal with 2:21 left to seal the decision for Carolina.

Chad LaRose scored a short-handed goal with 1:32 remaining for a 6-2 advantage.

The Penguins return to action Monday at Mellon Arena against Philadelphia.