NHL: Carolina 5, Florida 4

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Ray Whitney's 23rd goal of the season with 4:21 left in regulation Saturday boosted the Carolina Hurricanes past the Florida Panthers 5-4.

Carolina faced a 4-2 deficit before scoring three times in the third period.

The victory gave Carolina sole possession of first place in the Southeast Division.

Trevor Letowski and Eric Staal both had a goal and an assist, and Wade Brookbank scored a goal. Andrew Ladd had two assists, while goalies Cam Ward and John Grahame combined to yield four goals on 24 shots for the Hurricanes -- whose third straight win gave them 64 points, two better than Atlanta, which lost 4-1 to the New York Islanders Saturday.

Florida got two goals from Nathan Horton and one each from Brett McLean and Rostislav Olesz.

Stephen Weiss, who suffered a hand injury in the second, had two assists.

Goalie Tomas Vokoun was beaten five times on 32 shots for the Panthers, who have lost three of their last four games.