Music: {allcanada} Thorburn's late goal lifts Jets past Hurricanes

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

{allcanada} Thorburn's late goal lifts Jets past Hurricanes

The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 - Justin Timberlake

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Chris Thorburn knocked home a loose puck in front of the net with 1:03 remaining in regulation to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

Rookie defenseman Jacob Trouba carried the puck around the net to set up the game-winner for the Jets, who have won three in a row. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 28 shots for his 18th win of the season.

The Jets (28-25-5) improved to 9-2-0 since former Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice took over behind the bench after Claude Noel was fired on Jan. 12.

With Winnipeg clinging to a 1-0 lead after two periods, Riley Nash pulled the Hurricanes even at 2:42 of the third. The Jets tied up Drayson Bowman's shot attempt from the slot, but the puck squirted free to Nash, who buried a quick shot past Pavelec for his seventh of the season.

The teams traded quality scoring chances in the first period. Carolina forward Nathan Gerbe had an early opportunity but lifted his shot off the crossbar. Brian Little had the best chance for Winnipeg when he took a pass above the crease from Trouba only to be stopped by Anton Khudobin moving right to left. The Hurricanes had the only power play of the period but did not register a shot.

Khudobin finished with 25 saves for the Hurricanes (25-21-9), who remained three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Andrew Ladd opened the scoring at 12:57 of the second period, finishing a 2-on-1. Michael Frolik beat Carolina defenseman Justin Faulk through the neutral zone and put a shot on goal, leaving Ladd to backhand the rebound past Khudobin. It was Ladd's eighth goal in 20 career games against the team that drafted him in 2004.

The Hurricanes had a prime opportunity to get even less than a minute later. With Zach Bogosian already serving a hooking minor, the Jets were whistled for too many men on the ice, giving Carolina 52 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play. But the Jets held the Hurricanes to one shot before both penalties expired. John-Michael Liles had the best chance for Carolina, blasting a shot off the left post.

The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 - Justin Timberlake