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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers used the franchise tag on Greg Hardy on Friday, preventing the outspoken defensive end from hitting the free agent market. Hardy will make $12.45 million next season. The team also re-signed kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract. Financial terms of that deal were not released. Hardy, known by teammates as "The Kraken," tied a franchise single-season record with 15 sacks in 2013 and was selected second-team All-Pro by The Associated Press. SportsIllustrated.com ranked Hardy as this off-seasons top NFL free agent. Hardy led the Panthers with 38 quarterback pressures and posted a career-high 67 tackles last season. "We are very pleased that Greg will be back with the Panthers next season," Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said in a release. "He was a big reason we were able to lead the league in sacks last year and keeps our defensive line intact." The Panthers have until July 15 to sign Hardy to a long-term contract extension. After that date they cant discuss a contract extension until after the season is over. "The franchise mechanism gives us time to secure the services of a very good player while we continue to look at the future of Greg with the Carolina Panthers," Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said in a release. "We have had great dialogue with both Greg and his agent. It was important to keep our defensive front together." Hardy and Charles Johnson are the only set of teammates to record 10 or more sacks in each of the last two seasons. They have combined for 49.5 sacks during that span, tied for most in the NFL. A former sixth-round draft pick out of Mississippi, Hardy made the league veteran minimum salary last year. Hardy said in January he would have no problem if the Panthers used the franchise tag on him after being selected to his first Pro Bowl. "I would love a franchise (tag), man," Hardy said prior to the playoffs. "Add another year on my career. Get to play football a little bit longer without a contract. Another year to be in Carolina just to get them a chance to get their fiscal responsibilities in order so we can be here forever, like Steve Smith and a lot of other guys." Hardy becomes the fifth player in Panthers history to receive the franchise tag, joining punter Todd Sauerbrun (2003), tackle Jordan Gross (2008), defensive end Julius Peppers (2009) and centre Ryan Kalil (2011). Gano helps solidify the teams kicking situation. The 26-year-old Gano is coming off a successful season, converting 24 of 27 field goal attempts while helping the team to a 12-4 record and the NFC South title. He set a franchise record and tied for the NFL lead with six made field goals from 50 yards or more. He was the only NFL kicker with three or more attempts from 50 yards or more without a miss from that distance. "Im really excited to be back in Carolina," Gano said. "It is where my family and I wanted to be. I love the organization and feel this is the best place for me." Rivera said: "The special teams unit was a large part of our success last year and we are excited to keep Graham as a part of our team. Graham has shown range and accuracy in his field goal kicking, and his strong leg has been a weapon for us on kickoffs." Of his 82 kickoffs, 76 reached the end zone, including 63 for touchbacks, the highest percentage in the NFL since 1994. A five-year NFL veteran, Gano spent his first three seasons with the Washington Redskins. He has converted 92 of 118 field goal attempts in his career. Gano feels like he has some stability on the team, which has helped his game. "When I was in Washington I went through four holders and that took some getting used to," Gano said. "I finally got comfortable there and made my last 14 of 17 field goals. Ive carried over that consistency to Carolina." Gano said he was celebrating the new deal by taking his son to Chic-fil-A. 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The 23-year-old Neustaedter will move at the end of the season when his contract with Moenchengladbach expires. He signed a four-year deal with Schalke.VANCOUVER - Joni Ortio had to overcome a lot more than the Vancouver Canucks to record the first shutout of his NHL career.The rookie goalie made 36 saves to help the Calgary Flames blank their Pacific Division rivals 1-0 on Saturday following a 48-hour ordeal that included lost baggage, a cancelled flight and a new pair of contact lenses.Ortio was recalled by the Flames from their AHL affiliate on Wednesday after Karri Ramo went down with an injury, but didnt join the team until Friday afternoon.It wasnt fun, Ill tell you that much, said Ortio. There was a huge snowstorm in Chicago and I kind of got stranded there and cancelled my flight and I went through Toronto and Winnipeg on my way to Calgary.I know shorter routes than that.To make matters worse, the airline lost his luggage — including his contacts — and sticks somewhere in transit.I dont know where, but I got replacement (contact lenses), said Ortio. My gear made it, thank God.The 23-year-old shook all that off to help Calgary (22-18-3) snap a three-game losing streak and pick up its first victory over Vancouver since March 2013.Ortio — who played his first game in the NHL this season and just the 10th of his career — is also the first Flames goalie to shut out the Canucks since Miikka Kiprusoff did it in a 1-0 victory back on Nov. 5, 2005.The pair also just happen to both be from Turku, Finland.When I was growing up, when I was little I looked up to (Kiprusoff) a lot when he was playing back home for my hometown team and then when he came over I kept following him, said Ortio, who backed up Jonas Hiller in Fridays 6-5 loss to the Florida Panthers. Hes been a big influence on my career for sure.It makes it more special. I think it was about time someone shut out the Canucks.Mikael Backlund scored in the first period for a Calgary team that came in 0-6-3 over its last nine against Vancouver.Joni didnt have it easy coming in here, tough couple travel days and didnt get much sleep so it was great to see him have a great performance, said Backlund. Obviously it pumps us up when he makes some big saves and without him we wouldnt have won the game. He was player of the game for sure.Eddie Lack stopped 22 shots for Vancouver (23-14-3), which has dropped two straight after going 5-1-1 over its previous seven outings.Lack — who came in with a 3-0-0 career record against Calgary — and No. 1 goalie Ryan Miller both werent feeling well on Saturday. Neither skated in the morning, but Lack was deemed the healthier of the two and got the nod.Sometimes I feel like you can have your best games when youre not feeling good, said Lack, his voice cracking. If I didnt feel good enough to play I would never play.Trailing 1-0 after giving up a goal early in the first and in possession of a 28-14 shot edge through two periods, the Canucks came out hard in the third, but Ortio was there when he had to be after Vancouver hit three posts in the games first 40 minutes.All I gave them was the iron, he joked.dddddddddddd No, I got lucky there too but sometimes you just gotta earn your luck.Vancouver continued to press late, but Calgary found a way to hang on late despite playing its second game in as many nights thanks to their rookie netminder.Great performance, said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. I thought he was in control from the first shift, his rebound control was great, great focus, big win.Calgary led 1-0 after a first period mostly dominated by the Canucks and the home side continued on the front foot in the second.Daniel Sedin hit the Canucks second post on a short-handed 2-on-1 rush 1:30 into the period before Jannik Hansen rang another shot off the crossbar a few minutes later.Lack then had to be sharp after a puck in front of the Vancouver goal pinballed to Calgarys Brandon Bollig, who fired a quick shot on target.The Canucks thought they had tied the game with under five minutes to go, but the goal was waved off when Henrik Sedin was judged to have batted the puck in with a high stick.Daniel Sedin then had another chance late in the period, only to have Ortio again foil his effort — this time on a 2-on-1 break with the teams playing 4-on-4.Its frustrating, said Henrik Sedin, whose team was 2-3-0 on its five-game homestand. We know how big every point is. To not get two from this game is disappointing for sure.The Flames didnt have much of the puck in the first period, but grabbed a 1-0 lead at 5:38 on their first shot of the game when Backlund chipped a cross-crease feed from David Jones past Lack for his fourth of the season. Backlund now has three goals and two assists in three games after missing the previous 29 following abdominal surgery.Ortio faced 15 shots in the first period and had to be sharp with about seven minutes to go, stopping Nick Bonino at the side of the net after he took a nice feed from Chris Higgins.Both teams hit posts late in the period, with Flames forward Sean Monahan pinging a shot behind Lack before Bonino did the same against Ortio, who will have quite a story to tell about his first NHL shutout when his careers done.I guess I needed that adversity, he said. Stuff happens and you just have to put it behind you and not let it affect you.Notes: Calgarys last win at Rogers Arena before Saturday was all the way back on Dec. 23, 2011, when the Flames beat the Canucks 3-1. ... Vancouver now heads out on the road for five next five games, beginning Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. ... The Flames played their first of a five-game road trip that continues Thursday when they visit the Arizona Coyotes. ... Canucks defenceman Frank Corrado made his season debut after being called up from the AHL, taking the spot of Yannick Weber. ... Canucks forward Radim Vrbata was named to the NHL all-star game on Saturday, while Flames defenceman Mark Giordano will also play in the showcase event. Flames rookie Johnny Gaudreau will take part in the skills competition. ' ' '