Ward gets 200th career win as Hurricanes top Blues

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) gathers in the shot of St. Louis Blues' Ryan Reaves (75) who is defended by Hurricanes' Tim Brent (37) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, March 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

March 15, 2012

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RALEIGH, N.C.—Chad LaRose and Jeff Skinner scored, Cam Ward recorded his 200th NHL victory and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the St. Louis Blues 2-0 on Thursday night.

It was the 20th career shutout for Ward, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2006 when Carolina won the Stanley Cup. He made 40 saves in his fourth shutout of the season.

Brian Elliott stopped 28 shots for St. Louis, which is 13-2-2 against the Eastern Conference.

The Blues had won the teams' other meeting this season, 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 21.

St. Louis' Andy McDonald left the game late in the second after falling and hitting his right shoulder on the boards in a collision with Carolina's Tuomo Ruutu.

The Blues outshot the Hurricanes 13-12 in a scoreless first period. The Hurricanes killed off a 4-minute power play beginning at 10:07 when Chad LaRose was called for high sticking.

Elliott had a huge save 5 minutes into the second when he got a hand on a loose puck off his glove-side post to prevent Andreas Nodl from poking it in.

Hurricanes captain Eric Staal was penalized for a total of 4 minutes with 19 seconds to go in the second for tripping and slashing.

The Blues got a big break with about 9 minutes left in the third as Tim Brent hit the left post on a breakaway.

LaRose then got the winner, his 15th of the season, a minute later, circling the net and beating Elliott for his 15th of the season with Nodl assisting.

Skinner added his 20th goal from the low slot on a breakaway with 2:38 to go.

NOTES: As of Thursday, the Hurricanes' home building is called PNC Arena, after previously being known as the RBC Center. PNC Financial Services Group bought RBC Bank in June of 2011. ... It was St. Louis' first visit to Raleigh since a 5-2 win on Oct. 28, 2009. ... Blues C Patrik Berglund played in his 300th NHL game, all with St. Louis. ... Carolina's Anthony Stewart and his brother Chris, both right wingers, played against each other for just the second time in their NHL careers. ... Blues C Jason Arnott (undisclosed injury, day-to-day) was out while D Kris Russell (concussion-like symptoms) missed his 11th straight game. ... Carolina F Jiri Tlusty (illness) missed his third straight game and D Jaroslav Spacek (lower body) his second.