NHL: Carolina 3, Atlanta 1

RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Sergei Samsonov had a hand in all of Carolina's goals Wednesday, propelling the Hurricanes to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta.

Samsonov scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season and assisted on Joe Corvo's score in the third period that gave Carolina some insurance en route to its third win in five games.

Cam Ward needed to block just 20 shots for the victory.

Atlanta lost its fourth straight, getting a goal from Ilya Kovlachuk in the first period. It was the first goal in nine games for Kovlachuk, the longest such drought of his career.

Samsonov tied it with 25 seconds left in the opening frame, putting a backhander past Kari Lehtonen. Samsonov gave the Hurricanes the lead with 3:11 to play in the second.