RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Kevin Weekes came within 53 seconds of a shutout and the Carolina Hurricanes got special teams goals from Rod Brind'Amour and Ron Francis Saturday night in a 3-1 triumph over the previously unbeaten New Jersey Devils.
Last spring, Weekes came off the bench and recorded wins in the last two games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, including a 1-0 blanking at New Jersey in Game 6. He shut out the Devils again until Brian Gionta beat him with a rebound in the final minute.
By then, Carolina had a three-goal lead and New Jersey's frustrations had boiled over.
Brind'Amour put the Hurricanes ahead for good with a shorthanded tally 5:46 into the opening period, deflecting Kevyn Adams' long backhander past Martin Brodeur for his fourth goal of the season.
Jeff O'Neill and Francis added third-period tallies for Carolina, which snapped a three-game losing streak and scored more than a goal for just the second time in six contests this season.
The Devils were trailing, 2-0, when normally placid center Scott Gomez was called for roughing with 8:44 to go. Gomez also was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a game misconduct, moments before Brodeur was penalized for slashing.
Francis cashed in on the ensuing two-man advantage and, when the penalty timekeeper would not allow New Jersey's Jim McKenzie to leave the box, teammate John Madden broke his stick in half on the ice.
