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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Two teams that have been digging holes in
the first period dug in late Friday night as the Carolina
Hurricanes tied the New Jersey Devils 3-3.
Patrik Elias scored early in the third period and assisted on
another goal as the Devils rallied three times for the point.
|  | | Hurricanes goalie Arturs Irbe didn't give Steve Kelly a rebound to put home. |
"I think we're having trouble getting up for the first
period," New Jersey's John Madden said. "Once we get into the
game we're fine. For whatever reason we're coming out flat and dig
ourselves a big hole and we can't recover."
Carolina extended its unbeaten streak in overtime to an NHL-best
21 straight (4-0-17), but remained winless in its past four games
(0-3-1).
"This is a team that needed the points, too," New Jersey's
Scott Gomez said of the Hurricanes. "We can look at this
positively and say we were down but we came back to get a point. We
had our chances but (Arturs) Irbe played a great game."
Irbe stopped 28 of 31 shots, including many close in against a
hungry Devils team.
"We aren't on the right track yet because we want to win,"
Irbe said. "Ties won't get us really far this season. It's time to
win some games, but we'll take this point because it was a great
overall effort."
Carolina's offense, which scored 11 goals in six games since
beating Dallas 5-2 in the second game of the season, had plenty of
scoring opportunities against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Meanwhile, New Jersey's league-best power play unit went
0-for-3.
The Devils trailed 3-2 less than six minutes into the final
period when Randy McKay fed Elias on a 2-on-1. Elias picked the
upper right corner of the net for his third of the season.
The Hurricanes took a 2-1 early in the second when Ron Francis,
who is in an early season slump, tipped a shot past Martin Brodeur
for his 474th career goal.
"Aside from the goal Ron did a lot of good things," Carolina
coach Paul Maurice said of Francis, who had just three points in
eight games coming into Friday. "He got to pucks quicker. He's a
big-game guy and that's why he's going to be in the Hall of Fame.
"His game is not where he wants it to be but he knows how to
get his game going."
Carolina killed off a pair of New Jersey power plays in the
middle of the period before Madden beat Irbe for his first of the
season off a nice centering pass from Gomez.
But a minute and a half later, Rod Brind'Amour and Shane Willis
executed a perfect 2-on-1 as Carolina took its third lead, 3-2,
late in the second. The goal was the third of the season for the
rookie Willis.
Carolina's third line has been at its best this season and was
rewarded with some power-play time early in the game. The unit
wasted little time cashing in as Turner Stevenson was off on a
four-minute high- sticking penalty.
Rookie Josef Vasicek scored his second of the season 6:18 in
from a sharp angle, firing the puck off the skate of New Jersey
defenseman Scott Stevens and past Brodeur.
The Devils got back into the flow of the game midway through the
first, peppering Irbe with five shots on the power play before
Alexander Mogilny cashed in on a turnover late in the period for
his team-leading fourth goal.
Game notes
Petr Sykora missed the game for the Devils because of a
groin injury. ... Carolina hit the post twice in the first period.
... Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said defenseman Kevin
Hatcher, who leads the team with a plus-5 rating, won't be back for
at least another week after taking a puck off his fingers. ... New
Jersey has given up three or more goals in five of its first eight
games. ... The Devils have outshot opponents 106-56 in the second
period.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Carolina Clubhouse
RECAPS
Buffalo 2
Toronto 1
New Jersey 3
Carolina 3
Columbus 3
Washington 1
NY Islanders 2
Montreal 1
Ottawa 6
Tampa Bay 0
Minnesota 3
Calgary 1
Florida 3
Nashville 3
Pittsburgh 4
NY Rangers 1
Phoenix 4
Dallas 2
Atlanta 1
Vancouver 1
Anaheim 3
Edmonton 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Patrik Elias ties the game for New Jersey.
avi: 872 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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