Twelve players with Carolina and eight with Florida recorded at least one point in the wild season opener for both teams.

David Booth and Cory Stillman scored in the first 6:07 of the game to give the Panthers a quick lead, but Tuomo Ruutu and Ray Whitney countered for the Hurricanes to create a tie after one period.

Rod Brind'Amour then scored on the power play to give Carolina its first lead, after which Radek Dvorak tied it with 6:50 to play in the second. Pitkanen scored 1:35 later, putting the Hurricanes in front for good.

Trailing by a goal with time running out, Florida pulled goaltender Tomas Vokoun, and Matt Cullen soon produced an empty-net goal that clinched the outcome with 26 seconds left.

Brind'Amour, who produced 51 points in 59 games last season, is coming off major knee surgery.