Raleigh, NC (Best E Casino) - Chad LaRose, Erik Cole and Scott Walker each posted a goal and an assist as Carolina erased a three-goal third period deficit to beat Florida, 6-4.

Craig Adams, Cory Stillman and Ray Whitney also scored, while Rod Brind'Amour finished with three assists for the Hurricanes, who scored five straight goals in a span of 8:22 in the third period to surge in front.

Netminder Cam Ward gave up three goals on 31 shots through the first two periods alone before being replaced by John Grahame, who needed to make just six saves in the third period to pick up the win.

It was the third straight victory for Carolina, which rallied from a three- goal deficit to win for the first time since November 15, 1998 against the Islanders.

Olli Jokinen scored twice and Stephen Weiss had a goal and two assists for the Panthers, who have dropped four of five and haven't won in Carolina since December 2002.

Alexander Auld stopped all 14 shots he faced through the first two periods before allowing five goals on 12 shots in the third period.

Facing a 3-0 deficit in the final period, LaRose got things going for Carolina 1:40 into the third when his shot deflected off the stick of a Panthers' player and past Auld for the goal. Cole then broke free for a breakaway goal to bring the Hurricanes within 3-2.

Walker kept the rally going for Carolina, scoring on a wrap-around from behind the net to tie the game at 3-3 at the 8:02 mark of the period.

Then, with Carolina on the power play, Stillman worked a perfect give-and-go with Andrew Hutchinson to give the Hurricanes their first lead of the game, 4-3.

Adams capped the Carolina rally, backhanding a rebound past Auld to make it 5-3 with 9:58 left in the third.

Florida showed some life near the end as Jokinen capitalized on a Panthers' power play to make it 5-4 with 55.1 seconds remaining. However, with Auld pulled, Whitney netted the empty-netter to ice the game for Carolina.

After a scoreless first period, the Panthers scored three goals in the second period to surge in front.

Juraj Kolnik got things going for Florida when he stuffed home a rebound at the 11:59 mark of period. Just 50 seconds later, Ville Peltonen sent a pass to the left circle for Jokinen, who rifled the puck into the top-right corner of the net for the goal.

Then, with 3:27 left before the second intermission, Weiss' impressive goal made it 3-0. Kolnik's initial shot hit off of Ward's glove, off the right post and straight into the air. Weiss then reached around Ward and swatted the puck out of mid-air into the Carolina net for the score.

Game Notes

Hutchinson and Eric Belanger each finished with two assists for Carolina...Florida went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Hurricanes went 1-for-5.