Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Jordan Staal posted a goal and three assists to lead the Carolina Hurricanes in a 6-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
Elias Lindholm had a goal and two assists, Zach Boychuk and Jeff Skinner each had a goal and an assist, while John-Michael Liles and Patrick Dwyer each had a goal for the Hurricanes, who are in the midst of a season-high five-game winning streak. Anton Khudobin made 25 saves in the victory.
"Everyone played really well tonight," said Staal. "We're getting some great saves from the goalies when we need them, and we're sticking with our game and pucks are going in."
Joffrey Lupul had the lone goal of the game for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped three straight. James Reimer allowed all six goals on 36 shots in the loss.
"This wasn't the game we wanted to play tonight," said Reimer. "I wanted to hang in there and keep it as close as I could, but they got one early in the second and then another one in the third, that was tough."
Carolina got on the board at 2:33 of the first period, as Brett Sutter's turnaround shot from the right circle hit off a body, but the puck came out to the slot and Boychuk wristed it home for his first of the year.
It was a 2-0 game six minutes later as the Hurricanes scored on the power play when Staal threw a one-timer on net from the left circle that was stopped, but the rebound came out to the right and Skinner slammed it in.
Toronto got one back at 14:14 of the first as Mason Raymond faked going around the net and sent a quick pass out front where Lupul one-timed it home for his 14th of the season.
Carolina, though, got it back at 17:33 as Dwyer wristed the puck past Reimer during a scrum in front for a 3-1 advantage.
The only goal of the second period went to the Hurricanes. On a 3-on-1 break, Boychuk sent a pass from the left wing to the right where Liles one-timed it home for his first of the season at 3:39.
Any thoughts of a comeback for Toronto was killed just 25 seconds into the third, as Staal beat Reimer with a wrister from the right circle on a 2-on-1 break while shorthanded.
Lindholm scored a power-play goal with 1:09 to play to account for the final score.
Game Notes
Earlier on Thursday, it was announced that Carolina will play its postponed game with Buffalo on Feb. 25. Hazardous weather conditions forced a cancellation of Tuesday's game ... Carolina plays at Columbus on Friday ... Toronto plays in Washington on Friday ... Carolina has taken two of the three games with Toronto this season ... The Hurricanes were 2-for-5 on the power play, while Toronto went 0-for-2.
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