Hurricanes 3, Lightning 2: Jiri Tlusty scored twice and Alexander Semin added a goal and two assists in the first period as visiting Carolina avoided a season sweep against Tampa Bay.

Captain Eric Staal chipped in with a pair of assists as the Hurricanes won their second game in April and their first in five tries against the Lightning. Dan Ellis snapped a seven-game winless skid (0-6-1) after turning aside 15 shots in the third period and 35 overall for his first victory since March 9.

Martin St. Louis recorded a goal and an assist and Steven Stamkos also scored for Tampa Bay, which is winless in six games (0-4-2). Anders Lindback made 25 saves in his first appearance since March 20 due to an ankle injury.

Carolina took the lead 16 seconds into the game when Staal stole the puck from Stamkos behind the net and set up Semin’s one-timer in the right faceoff circle. Tlusty scored at 10:45 when his shot hit off defenseman Victor Hedman’s skate and went past Lindback and made it 3-0 by flipping home a rebound in front with 1:14 left in the first period.

Stamkos cut the deficit midway through the second period with a shot from the left faceoff circle on the power play. Captain Vincent Lecavalier won a faceoff and quickly fed a pass in front to St. Louis to bring Tampa Bay within a goal 2:16 into the third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: St. Louis’ assist moved him past Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby into the league lead with 42 helpers. Stamkos has 28 goals, two behind league-leader Alex Ovechkin of Washington. … Carolina D Joe Corvo assisted on one of Tlusty’s first-period goals for his 300th career point. … Lightning LW Benoit Pouliot was a healthy scratch.