Staal's two goals lead rout of Isles as Canes keep position in playoff chase

Hurricanes

Staal's two goals lead rout of Isles as Canes keep position in playoff chase

Feb 20, 2009

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UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Eric Staal scored two goals, including one in Carolina's big first period, and the Hurricanes kept pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a 6-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

Staal hit the 25-goal mark for the fourth time in his five NHL seasons less than a minute after Matt Cullen snapped a 1-1 tie with 3:45 remaining in the first period. Staal netted No. 26 late in the second as the Hurricanes pulled away for their fourth straight road win.

The last time they has this good of a road run was a five-game spurt from Oct. 22-Nov. 14, 2005, during Carolina's Stanley Cup championship season.

The Hurricanes, ninth in the Eastern Conference, started the day five points below the postseason cutoff. Ray Whitney and defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Anton Babchuk added goals, and Cam Ward stopped 22 shots.

Islanders defenseman Mark Streit scored for the third time in his last four games, but New York dropped both ends of back-to-back games -- including a 3-1 road loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday.

Jon Sim also scored, and Joey MacDonald made 24 saves for the Islanders, who had won four of six home games (4-0-2), but own the NHL's worst record (17-35-6). New York has lost seven of eight overall (1-6-1).

Whitney gave Carolina a 1-0 lead 5:23 in when he deflected Babchuk's left-point shot past the ineffective MacDonald. Streit tied it with a power-play goal at 11:48, but that was the last bit of positive play from the Islanders.

Cullen put Carolina ahead for good after Whitney found him alone in the slot. He calmly shifted the puck from backhand to forehand and swept in a shot. Staal made it 3-1 by turning a pass from Sergei Samsonov in the left circle into a drive over MacDonald's right shoulder with 2:51 left in the first.

Islanders defenseman Bruno Gervais nearly brought his club within a goal early in the second, but for the second straight night was turned aside by the goal post.

Staal got back on the board with 3:11 remaining in the second, off another assist from Samsonov, and Seidenberg pushed the lead to 5-1 with 15.4 seconds left.

Babchuk and Sim traded goals in the third period.

Game notes
Staal has six goals and three assists in his last seven road games. ... Islanders RW Richard Park will be out four weeks due to broken ribs. Park had played in 223 consecutive games. ... New York RW Trent Hunter (hip flexor) returned after missing four games. ... The Hurricanes haven't matched their road success at home, where they have lost three straight and were outscored 15-2. They hold a 20-7 scoring edge during their road-winning streak.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Staal's two goals lead rout of Isles as Canes keep position in playoff chase

There is no reason the Canes should not win their next 3... then there is a crucial game with Buffalo who we beat up pretty good last time and they are in the 8th spot.

RE: Staal's two goals lead rout of Isles as Canes keep position in playoff chase

ncstate, I agree. Every time I go or watch it seems they lost. I did see last night's game but it was already 3-1 so I turned it off!! IF and that's a big IF they are going to make the playoffs they have to turn their road successes into a significant home stand. After all, it's the home crowd that's making the payments at RBC!!

Like a magic show

The good 'Canes: Now you see 'em, now you don't

We saw them last night. Will the magician make them disappear again tonight?

RE: Staal's two goals lead rout of Isles as Canes keep position in playoff chase

Maybe they should wear white at home and all the fans should wear the opposing teams sweaters. Maybe we could work up a round of "Let's go Bolt's" or Waaard Waaard Waaard....You Suck!

RE: Staal's two goals lead rout of Isles as Canes keep position in playoff chase

The trick for the Canes to make the playoffs is that I can't watch them anymore. Whenever I watch, they lose....

WRAL Sports Fan

Hurricanes