Staal records hat trick as 'Canes top Coyotes

Hockey Betting Lines

11/21/2008 - Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eric Staal snapped an eight-game goalless drought with his fifth career hat trick, helping the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes at RBC Center.

Ray Whitney added a pair of third-period goals including an empty-netter for Carolina, which earned its first three-game winning streak of the season. The 'Canes have now notched victories in the first three tests of a four-game homestand and improved to 6-4-0 as the host this season.

Joni Pitkanen registered three assists and Scott Walker two for Carolina, which will complete their homestand Sunday against Nashville. Cam Ward halted 26-of-28 shots to get the win.

Kevin Porter and Shane Doan lit the lamp for the Coyotes, who dropped their fourth straight game on the heels of a three-game winning streak. Ilya Bryzgalov made 28 saves in defeat.

Phoenix opened a four-game road trip Friday and the club is now 3-6-0 as the visitor this season.

Carolina evened the score for a second time eight minutes into the second. Niclas Wallin had a slap shot deflected by a Coyotes defender coming down the left side and the puck skidded into the right corner. Pitkanen swooped in and sent a blind pass out in front to Staal, who collected his second goal of the game with a quick shot.

Then with 45.1 seconds left in the period, a similar scenario unfolded to give the 'Canes their first lead of the game. Pitkanen's shot was blocked off and Walker collected the puck behind the net, sending a quick pass out in front to Staal, who finished off the hat trick by sliding one past Bryzgalov.

Ward kept Phoenix off the scoreboard in the third and Rod Brind'Amour picked the puck off the right boards and slid a pass over to Whitney in the slot for a one-timer that helped seal the game with 2:21 left. Whitney then added an empty-netter in the final minute.

Ward and the 'Canes were able to survive the early stages of a 5-on-3 advantage for the Coyotes but with 39 seconds remaining on the penalties, Keith Yandle rifled a pass to Porter to the left of the net and the latter redirected it in for the game's first goal 8:56 into the contest.

Sergei Samsonov collected a bouncing puck in the slot and swirled a backhander on net that was knocked down in front where Staal was able to net the equalizer with 4:44 remaining in the first.

Doan's crisp wrist shot from the left circle lit the lamp just 1:47 later, giving Phoenix the 2-1 lead after one period.

Game Notes

Phoenix had won four straight meetings with the Hurricanes, including two in a row in Raleigh. Carolina scored a win over the Coyotes for the first time since November 12, 2002...The Coyotes recalled right wing Enver Lisin from San Antonio of the American Hockey League earlier Friday...Phoenix defenseman Derek Morris left the game with an upper-body injury in the second period and did not return for the third...The 'Canes last three-game winning streak came from March 16-20 of last season.