Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Cam Ward posted 25 saves for his first shutout of the season and the Carolina Hurricanes got their first win of the year in a 3-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.
Carolina had gone 0-6-2 to start the season, but a pair of goals from Elias Lindholm and a goal from Jiri Tlusty backed Ward's whitewash to get the team in the win column.
Mike Smith allowed all three goals on 35 shots for the Coyotes, who have dropped their past three.
Carolina scored just 3:57 into the game as Brett Bellemore threw the puck down low and Lindholm was there to swipe it in for his first of the season.
"We just wanted to get off to a good start in front of the home crowd," said Ward. "After we went on top quick it made the rest of the team relax a little more and that helped."
Lindholm scored his second of the game with 2:38 to play in the first period as he wristed home a rebound in the slot.
"We got behind early," said Arizona head coach Dave Tippett. "We made a couple mistakes and got behind, so we chased the game. That's happened too many times to us this year. We were taking chances, but we couldn't capitalize on them. We couldn't get ourselves back in the game."
Skating on the power play in the second period, the Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead as Justin Faulk blasted a shot from the left point that was deflected by Eric Staal and Tlusty was at the right side to swipe home the rebound for his sixth of the season.
Ward polished off his 22nd career shutout with 11 saves in the third period.
Game Notes
Carolina hosts Los Angeles on Sunday ... Arizona plays in Washington on Sunday ... These two split two games lat season, with each team winning on the road ... Carolina was 1-for-2 on the power play, while Arizona went 0-for-3.
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