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Seven different Hurricanes score in rout of Maple Leafs

Oct 10, 2007 - 2:34 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes more than doubled their scoring and tripled their power-play output in one game.

Seven different players scored as Carolina benefited from four power-play goals to throttle the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-1, on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes entered the game with six tallies - with only two on the man-advantage.

Matt Cullen, Justin Williams and Cory Stillman all had one power-play goal and two assists, while Ray Whitney, Scott Walker, Jeff Hamilton and Eric Staal also scored for Carolina.

"From the beginning of the game, we had an attitude on the power play that we were going to get it to the net and create traffic," Cullen said. "I thought we moved the puck around really well to get good shots - not just shots from anywhere."

The Hurricanes' seven-goal outburst is the most by any team thus far in the season.

Toronto, ironically, started the scoring 4:21 into the first period.

With the Maple Leafs on a 5-on-3 power play, Mats Sundin patiently assessed his options before firing a crisp pass to Bryan McCabe, who blasted a one-timer past Carolina goaltender Cam Ward.

"To be successful at this level, you've got to be able to take away those good angles," Ward said. "Mats Sundin is a very highly skilled player, I try to take away as much net as possible, but he's got a great shot."

Sundin's assist tied him with Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler for the franchise record in points (916).

The 36-year-old team captain has a point in all four contests this season, accumulating a goal and six assists.

From there, it was all Carolina.

Williams responded just over two minutes later, painting the short-side, top corner to beat Toronto goaltender Vesa Toskala to tie the game at 1-1.

"We did a great job tonight," Williams said. "We had four lines moving and rolling."

Stillman, who missed two games with a torso injury, gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 advantage with just 24 seconds remaining in the first period. For Stillman, it was his 211th career goal.

"They're going to go with it this year," Stillman said of Carolina's penchant for using five forwards on the power play. "Often you see it maybe late in the game, you're down by a goal and you have to score. When you look at five forwards out there (on the power play) you better make sure you get back."

After Cullen's power-play goal midway through the second period gave the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead, Whitney put the game out of reach with a back-breaking goal.

Whitney capitalized on a poor line change by skating in freely from the Maple Leafs' blueline and wristing the puck between Toskala's legs with under three minutes remaining in the period. It was Whitney's 255th career goal.

Three third-period goals were more than enough for Ward, who stopped 27 of 28 shots.

Toskala stopped 32 of 39 shots for Toronto.

"It takes six guys to win and I don't think (Toskala) played poorly, I don't think any of us played exceptional," Toronto defenseman Hal Gill said. "We need to have guys going out there hard every night and be consistent - we weren't that tonight."

"We were just very very poor in most areas of this game," Toronto coach Paul Maurice said.

Jason Blake did not register a point in his first game since disclosing on Monday that he has been diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia. He played over 17 minutes and took three shots in the loss.

Blake played with intensity right from the start, slamming Tim Gleason against the boards in the opening minute.