RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Eric Staal scored two of Carolina's four first-period goals Wednesday and finished with a hat trick in leading the Hurricanes to a 7-1 crushing of Ottawa.
It was the 11th hat trick of Staal's seven-year career, all of it spent with the Hurricanes.
Chad LaRose added two goals and two assists, helping Carolina halt a two-game skid. Cam Ward picked up the easy victory with 23 saves.
Staal scored back-to-back goals 5:24 apart in the first period, both of them coming on the power play. He added a goal with 6:16 to go in the third, giving the Hurricanes a 6-1 lead. Staal has nine goals for the season.
Brian Elliott was replaced in goal after letting in four of the 16 shots he faced. Pascal Leclaire finished out the contest.
Carolina announced before the game it had acquired defenseman Ian White and forward Brett Sutter from Calgary in exchange for defenseman Anton Babchuk and forward Tom Kostopoulos. Neither of the new acquisitions played Wednesday.
