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Leighton's goaltending keys Hurricanes to 3-1 win over Ducks

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-20 13:55

LOS ANGELES - Carolina back-up netminder Michael Leighton delivered a solid outing to help the Hurricanes end a recent poor run with a 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

Leighton, standing in for Cam Ward, made 32 saves as the Hurricanes moved into a tie with the Washington Capitals for the Southeast division lead. Both teams are 3-1-1.

Carolina started the season with two wins before losing to Detroit at home and on the road to the Los Angeles Kings in overtime.

"It was definitely a big win for us," Leighton told reporters.

"We had lost two in a row and three and 0 would not have been good for us. We wanted to come out and get the first goal. We did that and got a big win."

Ryan Bayda collected the Hurricanes' opening score six minutes into the first period but Anaheim's Francois Beauchemin made it 1-1 in the second period.

Carolina captain Rod Brind'Amour made it 2-1 late in the second and Eric Staal's empty-netter with 38 seconds remaining in the game wrapped up the scoring.

Leighton said Brind'Amour's goal was crucial as it quieted the Anaheim crowd and put the Hurricanes back in control.

"They had got a little momentum and the crowd got back into it, and that (goal by Brind'Amour) kind of calmed everyone down at the end of the period," Leighton said.

The loss was the fifth in six games for the Ducks, who started the season 0-4.