Canes lose but reach title game

The Hurricanes suffered their first loss of the NHL Prospects Tournament on Wednesday, losing 7-3 to the Atlanta Thrashers, but advanced to the championship game in Traverse City, Mich. The Canes (2-1) will face the winner of the St. Louis-Minnesota game for the tournament title Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Carolina won its portion of the round-robin with 5-3 wins over the New York Rangers and the host Detroit Red Wings. The Canes trailed the Thrashers 2-0 in the first period before Matt Kennedy scored on a four-on-three power play late in the period. After a scoreless second period, Atlanta erupted for five third-period goals to break it open. The Thrashers moved ahead 3-1 early in the third, but Zach Boychuk's power-play goal -- the forward's third score in as many games -- at 2:26 cut the lead to 3-2. The Thrashers made it 4-2, but Harrison Reed answered for the Canes. But a power-play goal by the Thrashers' Eric O'Dell pushed the lead to 5-3, and Evander K...