Panthers Snap Losing Streak

Hurricanes roster

"In the last month or so we haven't been playing our best hockey," Vernon said. "Tonight was a better indication of how we can play as a team. We did a lot of little things right."

Paul Laus and Ryan Johnson also scored for Florida and Rob Niedermayer finished the scoring with an empty-netter.

"It's nice to see the third and fourth lines contributing," Vernon said. "They don't get a lot of ice time, but they went out tonight and they executed and they played very well."

Florida was coming off a tough 3-2 overtime loss at Washington on Wednesday that shrunk its lead in the Southeast Division to three points. They led 2-1 late in regulation before allowing two goals.

"Tonight was not only a big win in our conference, but we won a game that was a 3-2," Whitney said. "That was a close game and we've been struggling to hand on to those leads."

Jeff O'Neill and Paul Coffey scored for the Hurricanes, who are three points away from the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We're going on the road and we got four tough games coming up," O'Neill said. "I don't know what to say. We got to pull it out of out hat somehow."