struggled off the tee all day and his hopes of a second na | Forum

RALEIGH, N. Ketel Marte Diamondbacks Jersey .C. -- Jeff Skinner had a hat trick, and then he didnt. He still did it all to help the Carolina Hurricanes earn a victory they hope will mean even more in the spring.Skinner had two goals and an assist, and the Hurricanes beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Friday night.Skinner originally had his fifth career hat trick -- and a shower of souvenir hats on the ice -- before the third goal was awarded to Bryan Bickell on a scoring change.I told Bicksie he owes everyone in the building their hats back, Skinner quipped.Still, his 16th career three-point night -- in his debut wearing the A as an alternate captain -- helped the Hurricanes win their home opener.Hes got the ability to make things happen in tight spaces, Carolina coach Bill Peters said. Hes got real good edge control. And hes dangerous. Hes a goal-scorer. Theres not a lot of them anymore, and hes a pure scorer, one of those guys that can just hang in the weeds a little bit and all of a sudden he gets the puck at the right time and the right spot, and its in the net.Victor Rask had two assists, giving him points in all seven games, and Cam Ward made 28 saves -- stopping Mats Zuccarello with about 5 seconds left -- to help Carolina snap a two-game losing streak.Zuccarello scored two power-play goals and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 18 shots for the Rangers, who snapped a three-game winning streak.It seems silly to label an October game as a must-win, but this might have counted as one for the Hurricanes: Since the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season, they have not made the playoffs in any season in which they lost their home opener . Meanwhile, only twice in that span have they won their first game at PNC Arena, and they went on to reach the postseason both times.And Skinner did plenty to make it happen in this one.He beat the second-period buzzer with a slap shot from the right circle -- a review found that 0.8 seconds were on the clock when the puck crossed the goal line -- that sent hundreds of complimentary hats onto the ice. It wasnt until the intermission that officials determined the puck clipped Bickell on its way past Lundqvist.I was shocked when I saw it in the net, Lundqvist said. Just had eyes, that puck, and obviously its a backbreaker to give up a goal that late. Thats the winner.That came after Skinner tied it with 7:26 left in the first when he chased down the rebound of his shot and snapped it high from the circle . He put Carolina up 2-1 by beating Lundqvist with a smooth backhand 33 seconds into the second.Zuccarello matched him goal for goal, beating Ward on a breakaway with 7:43 left in the second to make it 2-all, after his first goal was disputed by the Hurricanes.His high wrister from the left circle came after Carolina defenseman Ron Hainsey and New York winger Pavel Buchnevich fell on top of Ward during a scrum. The Hurricanes challenged, claiming interference, but the goal was upheld upon review.I felt like after we tied it at 2, the way we were playing, it felt like we were going to get this one, Lundqvist said.Game notes Lundqvist assisted on Zuccarellos second goal for the veteran goalies first assist of the season. He had four last year. ... Only one player in Hurricanes/Whalers history has a longer points streak to begin a season than Rask -- general manager Ron Francis, who did it in 1984-85 with Hartford. ... Two-time Daytona 500 winner NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. sounded the siren that blares when the Hurricanes enter the rink.UP NEXTRangers: Return home to face Tampa Bay on Sunday.Hurricanes: Wrap up a two-game homestand Sunday against division rival Philadelphia. Zack Greinke Jersey . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Robbie Ray Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.diamondbackssale.com/diamondbacks-taijuan-walker-jersey/ .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. American Jordan Spieth has won the Australian Open for the second time in a thrilling three-man playoff at Royal Sydney Golf Club.Spieth drained a three-metre putt for birdie on the 18th hole to scupper the dreams of local hopes Cameron Smith and Ashley Hall on Sunday.The trio all finished the championship 72 holes at 12 under par, with Spieth draining a nerve-wracking two-metre putt on the last just to make the sudden-death playoff.Then, in a dramatic climax, Spieth put his approach to three metres on the first hole of the playoff - the 18th - before Hall knocked his to less than two metres.Displaying all the cool and class that helped him land last years Masters and US Open crowns, 23-year-old Spieth again buried his clutch putt before Hall pushed his birdie attempt right of the cup.Spieths victory follows his win at The Australian in 2014 and his runner-up showing last year at the same venue.His victory is also a big win for Open officials, with the world No.5 almost certain to return to again defend the trophy next year when the tournament moves back to The Australian.In a major consolation for the joint runneers-up, Smith and Hall secured starts at next years British Open at Royal Birkdale, as did two-time champion Aaron Baddeley, who finished in a five-way tie for fourth at 10 under, two shots out of the playoff. Luis Gonzalez Jersey. Baddeley closed with a one-under 71 and edged out Rod Pampling (70), Jason Scrivener (69), New Zealander Ryan Fox (71) and third-round leader Geoff Ogilvy (73) by virtue of his superior world ranking.After starting the day with a two-stroke lead, Ogilvy looked the likely winner for much of the afternoon before unravelling with a bogey on the par-4 15th and a catastrophic double on the easy par-5 16th.The former US Open champion struggled off the tee all day and his hopes of a second national title - to go with his 2010 triumph at The Lakes - evaporated after he drove into the trees and couldnt get out on 16.While he eventually signed for a disappointing 73, Hall and Smith both charged home with final-round six-under 66s to reel in Ogilvy, with Spieth closing with a 69. ' ' '