NHL: Florida 3, Carolina 1

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Jose Theodore stopped 26-of-27 shots Tuesday, backstopping Florida to a 3-1 win over Carolina in the coaching debut of Kirk Muller for the Hurricanes.

Theodore made seven saves in the third period, allowing Shawn Matthias' late score to hold up as the game-winner.

Matthias tipped in a long shot by Tomas Kopecky to provide the go-ahead tally with less than 4 minutes left in the final period and later added an empty-netter for the first-place Panthers, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Muller's first game as an NHL head coach saw the slumping Hurricanes lose for the 11th time in 14 contests.

Jeff Skinner got Carolina's only goal while Cam Ward turned aside 18 shots in the setback.