RALEIGH, N.C., May 3 (UPI) -- Ron Francis scored 3:49 into a scoreless third period and Kevin Weekes recorded his second consecutive shutout as the Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Montreal Canadiens, 2-0, Friday night in the opening game of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The game seemed destined for overtime. But Francis had different plans.
After goaltender Jose Theodore robbed Sami Kapanen with a glove save along the ice, rookie Jaroslav Svoboda grabbed the rebound and had an open net to shoot at. But Svoboda's wrist shot rang off the left post and caromed into the corner.
Svoboda retrieved the loose puck and found defenseman Niclas Wallin at the right point. With traffic in front, Wallin unleashed a shot that Francis, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh, redirected between Theodore's legs for a 1-0 Hurricanes lead.
It was all Weekes needed as he stopped all 25 shots he faced to extend his shutout streak to 136 minutes, 30 seconds. The 27-year-old netminder has not allowed a goal since the 11:46 mark of Game Five of Carolina's conference quarterfinal series against New Jersey. Weekes blanked the Devils in Game Six to clinch the series.
Rookie Eric Cole scored with 2:18 remaining to seal the victory for the Hurricanes, who have not won three straight playoff games since 1986, when they captured four in a row as the Hartford Whalers.
Theodore turned away 36 shots for the Canadiens, who played without defenseman Patrice Brisebois and lost defenseman Sheldon Souray early in the contest.
Brisebois sat out with back spasms while Souray suffered a left hand injury at 4:34 of the first period after being checked from behind by Carolina right wing Jeff O'Neill -- who received a five-minute major and game misconduct.
Carolina, which advanced past the first round for just the second time in franchise history, improved to 4-0 at home in the postseason.
