Hurricanes win in OT in final home warm-up in front of 16,000

Behind two goals from new alternate captain Brandon Sutter, the Carolina Hurricanes topped the Atlanta Thrashers 2-1 in overtime in front of 16,000 at the RBC Center.

It's the last time the Hurricanes will play in Raleigh until late October as the team opens the regular season in Helsinki, Finland against the Wild.

Sutter said he was impressed with the crowd which provided regular-season excitement to the game. Fans were allowed in free to the 1:30 p.m. game.

The Hurricanes are younger, smaller and faster than last year's team. Coach Paul Maurice said he is happy with his players but is still looking for chemistry.

The defense held the Thrashers in check until the last minute of the game when they tied it up. Just a minute into overtime, on a fast-break rush, Carolina's Erik Cole found Sutter on the opposite side of the goal for the game winner.

Cam Ward had 30 saves, including a couple of spectacular ones, for the Hurricanes, who now head out to St. Petersburg, Russia for their final preseason game Monday.

Before the game, outside the RBC Center, young fans got to play roller hockey, jump on inflatibles and shoot pucks.