Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Sergei Samsonov scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Carolina Hurricanes edged the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, at the RBC Center.

In the extra session, Samsonov streaked down the right boards, corralled a bouncing puck and snapped a wrister from the right circle that Martin Brodeur turned aside. However, Samsonov drove hard to the net and buried the rebound past the stick of Brodeur at the 1:36 mark.

Cam Ward made 23 saves for the Hurricanes, who have won three straight and six of eight overall. Carolina has also earned points in eight consecutive home games (7-0-1).

"I thought after the first twenty minutes we played a real hard game," Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said. "A little bit sluggish coming out of the gate, maybe from just the day and the transactions that happened."

Tuomo Ruutu, who was acquired from Chicago in exchange for forward Andrew Ladd at the trade deadline, registered an assist in his Hurricanes debut. Ruutu was cut late in the third period and did not return.

With the win, Carolina now has 71 points and maintained its five point lead over Washington, which defeated Minnesota 4-1, for first place in the Southeast Division.

Brian Gionta scored for the Devils, who had a five-game winning streak broken. Brodeur stopped 34-of-36 shots for New Jersey, which extended its stretch of games with at least one point to nine (7-0-2).

"I thought we had a real good first period," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "We played well in the first, then a few penalties happened and it started taking away from the flow of our game."

The Devils now have 80 points on the season and lead Pittsburgh, which doubled up the Islanders 4-2, by one point for first place in the Atlantic Division. New Jersey also holds the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

After a scoreless, but vigorous, opening 20 minutes, New Jersey grabbed a 1-0 lead at 1:50 of the second on Gionta's 17th goal of the season. Flying down the right wing, the diminutive forward threw the puck into the slot, where it deflected off the stick of Carolina defenseman Bret Hedican and in behind Ward.

The momentum was short-lived, as the Hurricanes knotted the score four minutes later. Brodeur turned aside Keith Aucoin's offering with the right pad, but Samsonov, who was on the doorstep, banged home the rebound at 5:57.