After going 4-1-1 and scoring 26 goals in their last six games, the Carolina Hurricanes were shut out by the Florida Panthers Friday night at PNC Arena in a 2-0 loss.

The scoring touch the Canes (12-15-5) showed in their previous six games disappeared in a tight-checking battle against the Panthers (17-12-4), and a defensive breakdown was all it took to cost Carolina the game.

Carolina showed good jump in the first period, dominating puck possession and spending the majority of the opening frame in the Florida zone, but despite the Canes’ strong start, the two teams headed into the first intermission scoreless.

The Hurricanes continued to be the aggressors in the second, creating several quality scoring chances but were still unable to beat Panthers netminder Roberto Luongo.

Both teams played strong defensively, making it difficult for either side to create scoring opportunities or get many shots on net.

“It was really tight with not a lot of room out there,” Hurricanes captain Eric Staal said. “They play a very similar style to us, and there just weren’t a lot of chances either way, not a lot of shots and not a lot of looks.”

Carolina goalie Cam Ward kept Florida off the board, stopping all 11 shots he faced through the first two periods.

Heading into the third period, the game had the feel of one that would be decided by whichever team scored the first goal. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, the Panthers scored that first goal four minutes into the final period.

Florida defenseman Willie Mitchell was left alone in the slot and burried a pass from forward Jonathan Huberdeau into the net. The Canes defense failed to keep track of Mitchell and by the time forward Kris Versteeg tried to get to Mitchell, it was too late.

“We had the puck along the wall, and we didn’t quite get it out (of the defensive zone),” Carolina head coach Bill Peters said. “They activated Willie Mitchell down the backside and to the front of the net. It caused enough confusion that he got open.”

Ward had no chance on the play as the cross-ice pass was to quick for him to get across his crease in time to stop the shot.

“You can’t fault [Ward] on that one,” Staal said. “It was a backdoor play.”

Florida forward Reilly Smith added an empty-net goal in the final seconds of the game to give the Panthers a 2-0 win.