Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Eric Staal tallied a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the dismal Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1.
Jordan Staal also scored, Jiri Tlusty supplied two assists and Cam Ward made 23 saves for the Hurricanes, who bounced back from a 4-1 loss to the Islanders on Tuesday.
Brandon Kozun notched his first NHL goal and James Reimer allowed both Carolina goals on 26 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped five straight and 16 of their last 17 games.
"Ward played exceptionally well and made big saves," Toronto interim head coach Peter Horachek said. "Goals aren't easy right now."
Eric Staal opened the scoring with a power-play goal, tipping in Justin Faulk's point shot with 6:05 left in the first period.
Kozun tied the game on his milestone marker with 2:07 left in the opening frame. After David Booth rang a shot off the post that drew Ward out of his crease, Carolina forward Brad Malone took his netminder's spot but was unable to stop Kozun's shot.
The Hurricanes reclaimed the lead just 16 seconds later, as Jordan Staal tipped his brother Eric's low shot past Reimer.
"It's nice to get that second goal the way we did so quick after we got scored on," Carolina head coach Bill Peters said.
Ward was strong the rest of the way, as he stopped six shots in the second and six more in the third to preserve the win.
Game Notes
The Hurricanes won their fourth straight game against the Maple Leafs and have won eight of their last nine meetings with them at PNC Arena ... Jordan Staal won a game-high 12 faceoffs ... Carolina was 1-for-2 on the power play, while Toronto went 0-for-4.
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