By The Numbers: 'Canes 3, Panthers 2 (OT)

10 – Finding himself all alone in-between the top of the face-off circles, Jay Bouwmeester took a pass from the goal line from Cory Stillman and roofed it for his 14th of the season 8:30 into the game on Florida’s sixth shot of the contest. For Bouwmeester, it was his first goal in the last 10 games and second in his last 22.

44 – Another record for this year’s Panthers as the defense broke a tie with the 1995-96 team for most goals by a defensive unit. Florida's defense places first in the NHL with 44 goals scored this season (Bouwmeester-14, McCabe-12, Ballard-6, Boynton-5, Skrastins-4, Cullimore-2, Welch (traded to TB)-1).

15 – With Kamil Kreps sitting in the box for tripping, Tuomo Ruutu rebounded Anton Babchuk’s initial shot into the back of the net for his 23rd of the season and sixth on the power play. Carolina’s extra man unit has been hot, as Ruutu recorded the team’s 15th power play goal in the last 12 games. Ironically, Carolina also scored on their sixth shot of the game as well.

16 – A very physical first period as the Panthers outhit the Hurricanes 16-10. Leading the hit parade were a couple of forwards. Gregory Campbell, who leads the Cats in hits on the season, had three in the first, but that wasn’t the high. That belonged to Nathan Horton, who in his first game back from a lacerated finger (6 games missed), racked up four hits, including one that led to Bouwmeester’s goal. The Panthers finished the game with 34 hits on the night while Carolina ended with 26.

12.5 – Off a questionable line change, Carolina found themselves on a 3-on-2 rush late in the second period and Patrick Eaves put in the puck (off another questionable no call in what could have been a kick in) with 12.5 seconds remaining for his sixth of the season, giving Carolina a 2-1 lead heading into the final period of play.

31 – Florida received some good fortune late in the third period as Rod Brind’Amour went off for high-sticking with 5:10 left. Then 34 seconds later, Erik Cole was sent to the box for tripping. The Panthers cashed in when Stillman rebounded the puck into the back of the net off a scramble in front of the net 31 seconds into the 5-on-3 penalty. It was the Panthers first power play goal in four games.

7 – Stillman keeps finding ways to haunt his former team. With the assist in the first and then his game-tying goal in the third, Stillman has seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in five games against Carolina in his first season as a Cat. Stillman, who spent two plus seasons in Carolina and won a Cup in 2005-06, now has 25 points (nine goals) in 23 career games against the 'Canes.

97 – It only took 97 seconds of overtime for Ray Whitney to beat Tomas Vokoun with a blistering slap shot and send the Canes home with the victory, their first this season at the BankAtlantic Center. For Whitney, it was his 24th of the season but just his second game-winner. The former Cat now has 37 career game-winners.

1 – For the second straight game, the Panthers were only whistled for one penalty (Rostislav Olesz against Columbus). Both penalties in the last two games in the first period. Tonight’s penalty, however cost the Panthers a goal (Ruutu).

5 – Despite the loss, the Panthers did something they hadn’t done in five years against the Hurricanes. With the point, Florida earned their first winning series against Carolina since 2002-03 when they went 4-1-0. The Cats went 3-1-2 (8 out of 12 points) this season.

82 – Besides finishing second on the team in hits with 5, Campbell was extraordinary in the face-off circle winning 82% of the draws (9 of 11). He led a Cats front that won 61% of the face-offs in the game. No Hurricane player finished above 50% in the face-off circle.