• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Kilger tallies twice as Maple Leafs rout Hurricanes

Mar 28, 2007 - 4:56 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- It didn't take the Toronto Maple Leafs long to continue their home dominance.

Boyd Devereaux scored 43 seconds into the game and Chad Kilger scored twice as the Maple Leafs won their seventh straight home game, 6-1, over the listless Carolina Hurricanes.

Yanic Perreault recorded his 500th career point with his 21st goal of the season for Toronto (37-29-10), which moved into a three-way tie for the ninth spot with 84 points in the Eastern Conference with the Hurricanes and New York Islanders, who lost to New Jersey.

"We knew they were playing well and we've been playing well at home," Toronto defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo said. "We wanted to come out strong and get the early lead and we accomplished that tonight. The next two periods we continued to take it to them. It was a good momentum builder for us for sure.

"At this time of year we need everybody to step up. Obviously they're closing in our top line and Mats (Sundin) so it's going to take that second, third and even fourth-line scoring. Altogether, we played an amazing game tonight."

Montreal beat the New York Rangers and is tied with Tampa Bay for seventh with 86 points.

After Devereaux scored his seventh tally on a wrist shot from the right dot that beat goaltender Cam Ward glove-side, Eric Staal scored his 29th of the season 2:13 into the contest to forge a 1-1 tie. Toronto took charge from there.

Pavel Kubina scored unassisted with 5:29 remaining in the period on a 49-foot slap shot from the right circle through traffic, and then Kilger went to work. He tallied with 2:12 left in the session on a slap shot from the left circle that beat Ward top shelf to his glove-side before adding his 13th 7:17 in the middle period for a 4-1 lead.

"They scored with their opportunities and we didn't," Carolina defenseman Mike Commodore said. "I'm not taking anything away from them, but we weren't very good and they played well. We got down, 4-1, and we had to try and get back into the game and take some chances. A couple times we took some chances and (the puck) just ended up in the back of our net.

"We want to make the playoffs. We're not thinking we've got to make the playoffs because we're defending champions. We want to make the playoffs because that's what you're supposed to do."

Perrault scored his 21st goal of the season 11:18 into the second period.

"I think we came out pretty strong. I think our last three games we've played a really solid first period," he said. "This team's got a lot of good players. We made some plays down low and were able to battle with their defensemen. We've got four pretty good lines and that's one of our strengths right now.

"I think it's a special night. My 800th game and I was able to reach 500 points. At the same time, I think the win was really important especially now with the playoff race. We need to win every game."

Andrew Raycroft stopped 26 shots for the Maple Leafs, who improved to 18-15-5 at home.

Ward got pulled midway into the second period after yielding five goals on 19 shots for Carolina (38-30-8), which had a three-game winning streak snapped.