Hurricanes storm past Islanders

RALEIGH -- Eric Staal is playing his best hockey.

Then again, so is Cam Ward.

And if those two are going, scoring goals and preventing them as well as anyone in the NHL, one has to figure the Carolina Hurricanes have been at their best, as well.

So it has been the past five games for the Hurricanes. A 4-1 victory Thursday over the New York Islanders at the RBC Center was the third in a row for the Canes, who have won four of the five.

"I think it's fair to say that," Ward said. "We're making plays. We're not second-guessing. We're going out there and having some fun. It's good to see the guys clicking and playing well."

No one is clicking quite like Staal. Since being named team captain Jan. 20, succeeding Rod Brind'Amour, he has scored in five straight games - eight goals in all.

He's healthy, he's back at center and he's producing.

"He is definitely hot," Ward said, smiling. "He's definitely picked up his game, and with that has picked everybody else up.

"He's the leader on this team, and the best way for him to lead is by example, and he's playing at the top of his game right now."

A night after a 5-1 road win against the New York Rangers, the Hurricanes were energized in the first period when Staal scored on the power play for a 1-0 lead. Matt Cullen struck later in the period at even strength, beating goaltender Rick DiPietro with a rising shot to make it 2-0 after the first.

The rest would be more about defensive grit and stick battles and bodies banging, leading Canes coach Paul Maurice to call it a "good physical grind."

"We battled hard," Cullen said. "We didn't give up a lot, nor did they. It was a good battle out there. There wasn't a lot of ice to be had."

The Islanders (23-23-8), coming off a poor 7-2 loss Tuesday to the Washington Capitals, managed just three shots on goal in the second period as the Hurricanes constantly helped Ward out. And Stephane Yelle was one of Ward's biggest helpers.

With the Isles on a power play midway the third, Yelle poked the puck out of the zone, collected it on the move and rifled a shortside shot past DiPietro from the left wing for the Canes' sixth short-handed score of the season.

"A great shot," Staal said. "He made a nice play out of his zone first - he got it out.

"He let it rip. That was a great shot and a big goal that kind of breaks their backs."

The Islanders' desperation led to some intense offensive flurries in the third. New York had 15 of its 27 shots in the period and finally got a puck past Ward with 4:31 left on a Matt Moulson wrister from the slot.

But that was it, as Jussi Jokinen added an empty-netter. Staal assisted on it for his 400th career point.

The Islanders came into the game with two straight losses but just a point out of playoff position after a recent 10-3-1 run. But this may be the wrong time to be taking the ice against the Canes.

"We've been playing consistently a lot better," Cullen said. "The effort has been a lot more consistent and the attention to detail has been better. From the net out, it has been a lot better.

"I just think we've gotten a lot better. That's been our goal all year."

The Hurricanes (18-28-7) now have 43 points, one point behind the 14th-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the East. While there is uncertainly about the next few weeks, about what players may or may not be traded to a contender, the Canes have a loose, confident look about them.

"We're playing a pretty good brand of hockey, and we need to keep it going," Staal said.

As long as Staal keeps it going, and Ward keeps it going, the Canes may keep it going.