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Last season, the Carolina Hurricanes played some of their best hockey when they were getting consistent scoring contributions from the bench.
Chad LaRose, Carolina's tenacious 5-foot, 10-inch forward, always seemed to be a part of that group, playing with hustle and determination. But this season, as the team struggled, so did LaRose.
In Saturday's 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at the RBC Center, the work ethic that helped him earn a two-year, $3.4 million contract in the offseason finally paid off.
He had 19 goals last season but entered the game without one.
"I don't think my play has changed too much, but the team, as a whole, we weren't getting our bounces," LaRose said.
Aside from breaking his scoring drought, the goal gave the Hurricanes, who had played four straight games in overtime and sent three to shootouts, some rare breathing room.
LaRose broke through late in the third period, when forward Sergei Samsonov grabbed the puck at mid-ice, and the pair rushed down the ice.
Samsonov, at center, passed right and ahead to LaRose, who patiently worked the puck before firing a wrist shot past Tampa Bay goalie Mike Smith.
"Buried it," Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said.
It's not that LaRose hasn't had scoring opportunities this season.
"[He's] tried to blow it through [goalies] instead of trying to get it on the net," Maurice said. "He's tried to kill the goaltender for the first month. He has hit posts and pounded it and driven it, and that was a good little changeup for him."
Maurice said LaRose's struggles weren't for a lack of effort.
"He plays as hard as he can every time he gets on the ice," Maurice said. "So you just hope that he gets one and he gets a little confidence where he starts to feel good about himself."
In the depths of his scoreless streak, teammates were supportive, LaRose said.
"I think after a while, you take it a shift at a time," Samsonov said. "The more you think about it, the worse it's going to get. I've gone through that personally.
"You just want to show up and don't think about scoring. He's been getting some chances; he just didn't couldn't bury it."
It's still hard to not get down, especially with the pressure of a new contract, LaRose said.
"When we were losing, I felt more of a burden on myself," he said. "More of my fault. But it's all about winning. And when you're winning, it doesn't matter who's scoring in this locker room."
After the Hurricanes tied the franchise record for longest winless streak at 14, they have now earned points in their past five games, and that has given LaRose confidence.
"I think everyone is sleeping a little better," LaRose said. "It's tough to get going when you're losing games and bounces aren't going your way."
The Canes now hope another drought can end soon, as they play three out of four games this week on the road.
They haven't won on the road this season.
