RALEIGH, N.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. Swell Bottles Clearance .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Swell Bottles Wholesale . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. http://www.swellbottlesclearance.com/ .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Swell Drink Bottle Sale . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. Swell Drink Bottles Liberty . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). NEW YORK -- MLB commissioner Rob Manfred defended the end-of-game replay rules that might have cost the Cincinnati Reds a game and boosted the St. Louis Cardinals playoff chances in the final week of the season.The Cardinals won their Sept. 29 game against the Reds when Matt Carpenter scored on what replays showed should have been a ground-rule double, which would have sent Carpenter back to third.No replay was initiated because Reds manager Bryan Price didnt ask for it immediately after the game ended. Manfred said he doesnt think the incident indicates there is a problem with replay.There was a call. It was missed, Manfred said. Replay was available via manager challenge, and the manager, if you think about it, the manager elected or did not opt to challenge within the confines of a clearly defined rule. I mean, it says immediate in the rules.Manfred said the immediacy rule is necessary for two reasons. Managers have no reason to retain a replay challenge if there is a game-ending play. And players often douse one another with a beverage or retreat to the clubhouse, causing a disruption in the competitiveness of the game after walk-off plays.People throw Gatorade on people and players get off the field, Manfred said. And bringing folks back out on the field after some of those things have happened in order to continue a game because of a replay call is not appealing.One notion that has been brought up in the wake of the missed call is having replay officials in New York immediately review game-ending plays after they happen, much as they do in the NFL.dddddddddddd.Manfred said hes also not a fan of that idea.We opted for the challenge rule and have tried to stay pure on the challenge rule, given the number of calls in a game, figuring the best way to decide which ones really mattered is to let the people playing the games decide, Manfred said. Whoevers involved in bedlam after one of those games, there should be one guy who has his wits about him. Thats why they call him the manager.In addition to sharing his thoughts on replay, Manfred said an MLB investigation into hacking by one of the Cardinals former employees into the?Houston Astros data bases could be forthcoming. The Cardinals could be hit with penalties, such as losing a draft pick or having limits placed on their international signings.It will not be a next-year resolution. We are in the process of finishing up our investigation. Candidly, I wish it had gone a little faster. I wish it had gotten a little more help a little sooner from the U.S. attorneys office, Manfred said. But the cards come up how they come up, and were going to finish our investigation, and there will be a resolution of that during this offseason. ' ' '