'Canes Insider: Coming up big in shorthanded situations

Shorthanded goals have been a sort of saving grace for the Hurricanes this season. They picked up their seventh man-down goal in Monday night's game against New Jersey. That came in the 37th game of the season, marking the same total they notched all of last season. If nothing else, generating offense in shorthanded situations has been something that took place prior to the coaching change that ousted Paul Maurice and continues under new coach Kirk Muller. "When you get a chance to go, you've got to go," center Brandon Sutter said of the shorthanded situations. The latest shorthanded goal came from Sutter, jump-starting the team's 4-2 victory against visiting New Jersey. It came against a Devils team that has surrendered a league-high 11 shorthanded goals. That sequence helped the Hurricanes win consecutive games for the first time in more than a month. They'll aim for their second three-game winning streak when they play Tuesday night at Pittsburgh. NOTES With 19 first-period shots last week against Ottawa, the Hurricanes tied their mark for most shots in a period this season. In that game, the Hurricanes managed only 19 more shots the rest of the game (including overtime). "Our starts have been very good lately. It has been a big part of our game," defenseman Jay Harrison said. "It's a sign of our focus and our willingness to work in games." The Hurricanes have played a disciplined style, particularly at home. They've been in shorthanded situations only once in each of their last five home games. And they've scored a goal in the most recent such situation. Coach Kirk Muller said the Hurricanes are looking for the right circumstances to start a rush to the other end among their penalty-killers. QUOTE TO NOTE "It was unusual. It would have been a lot cooler if I shot the puck." -- G Cam Ward, who was credited with an empty-net goal when he was the last member of the Hurricanes to touch the puck before New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk inadvertently sent the puck into the net with what was supposed to be a pass that went all the way through the neutral zone. It was Ward's first career goal and the first for an NHL goalie in about five years. ROSTER REPORT C Brandon Sutter produced three shorthanded goals among his first seven goals this season. Sutter is tied for second in the NHL in shorthanded goals this season. C Riley Nash made the most of two games with the Hurricanes as he made his NHL debut last week. He earned an assist (on a play in which he initially was credited with the goal) for his first NHL point. But he was an emergency call-up to the Hurricanes, so he was reassigned to Charlotte of the AHL after the Dec. 23 game against Ottawa. C Tim Brent was out for less than a week with a lower-body injury, missing two games. He returned for Monday night's game against New Jersey, picking up two assists for his first multi-assist game in 132 career games. LW Jeff Skinner (concussion) missed his seventh consecutive game Dec. 26. He has been placed on injured reserve. D Joni Pitkanen (concussion) was injured Dec. 6 against Calgary and has missed every game since then. There's no specific time frame for his expected return. G Brian Boucher (lower body) was injured in practice Dec. 5. He has been placed on injured reserve.