AP photo

It was a career game for Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes.

And Tuomo Ruutu.

Add in a big game from Erik Cole and the Canes' top line accounted for six goals and nine assists Saturday as Carolina blitzed the Tampa Bay Lightning 9-3 at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, tying the franchise record for goals in a road game.

Staal had his first four-goal game, giving him 32 goals for the season, while also adding two assists for a career-high six points. He tied franchise records for goals and points in a game set by three players including Ron Francis, a Hall of Famer who is now the Canes' associate head coach.

The Hurricanes blow out the Lightning 4-1, thanks to two third-period power-play goals by Joe Corvo.

First Look: Photojournalist Chris Seward's raw edit of the game with the Tampa Bay Lightning at the RBC Center on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009.

The Carolina Hurricanes traded away forward Wade Brookbank, defenseman Josef Melichar and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 draft to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Jussi Jokinen on Saturday.

Jokinen, who will continue to wear No. 36, may be available for tonight's game against the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz.

“Jussi is a skilled, two-positional player that will give us depth, whether at wing or center,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said today. “He can play in all situations. He can help kill penalties, he can play the power play, he has had success in shootouts."

With forward Scott Walker not expected to play in Thursday's match against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the RBC Center, the Hurricanes recalled forward Michael Ryan from their AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats on Wednesday.

TAMPA — Just when it seemed the Lightning might be breaking away to an easy win, the Canes charged back to take the lead and the win.

Justin Williams and Chad LaRose scored goals in a span of 1:11 to give the slow-starting Canes a 2-2 tie after the first period. Dennis Seidenberg, without a point for nine games, had assists on both goals.

Joni Pitkanen's fourth goal of the season, on a blast from just
inside the blue line, pushed the Canes ahead 3-2 at 6:21 of the second. Williams assisted on the goal.

Staff photo by Chris Seward

• First Look

RALEIGH — Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward happily thrust his arms over his head when it ended. Earlier, the Canes' Rod Brind'Amour did the same, from his knees, after scoring a second-period goal.

For the Canes, scoring goals and scoring a victory Sunday were cause for celebration. After losing their last three games and four of the last five, after trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in the second period, the Hurricanes were a jubilant bunch after a 3-2 shootout win at the RBC Center.

Tuomo Ruutu beat Lightning goalie Mike Smith with a goal to start the shootout and Rod Brind'Amour -- who tied the score 2-2 with a second-period goal -- followed with another after Vinny Lecavalier missed for Tampa Bay. Ward then stopped Jussi Jokinen to end it.

"We played with a lot of emotion tonight and that's something we desperately needed," Ward said. "To be able to come back, being in a hole 2-0, it's huge for us, and hopefully we can build off that."