NHL: Carolina 7, Florida 2

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Tom Kostopoulos opened a scoring outburst with a shorthanded goal Friday and Carolina rolled to a 7-2 victory over Florida.

The Hurricanes produced the game's first four goals and equaled the highest scoring output in the NHL this season. Carolina had totaled just four goals in its first three games of the campaign.

Kostopoulos, Tuomo Ruutu and Jussi Jokinen all scored in the first period and Carolina drove Tomas Vokoun from the net when Matt Cullen scored 92 seconds into the third period to make it 5-1.

Vokoun allowed five goals on 26 shots, after which Alexander Salek was victimized twice on seven shots.

Cam Ward made 25 saves to get the win.

Florida played for the first time since opening the season by splitting a two-game series with Chicago in Helsinki last weekend.

The Panthers have won just two of their last 20 trips to Carolina.