Although Ryan Getzlaf led by example and came tantalizingly close to that fabled hat trick, the Hurricanes dumped the Ducks and Eric Staal showed Getzy how it’s done and earned his 12th career trick.
The ‘Canes depleted their ranks in the third and the Ducks pulled Hiller to create a rare 6-on-3 opportunity, but in the end, it was a classic case of too little too late.
The laughers last night were Atlanta vs. Devils (7-1-) and Los Angeles vs. Nashville (6-1).