Hockey Flyers spread the scoring wealth as Hurricanes continue to struggle

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Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn waited five years for his first two-goal game in the NHL. Then he took care of the feat in 1½ minutes.

Coburn scored twice and Scott Hartnell and Matt Carle each had a goal and two assists to help Philadelphia snap a two-game losing streak and send the Carolina Hurricanes to their eighth straight loss, 6-1 on Saturday.

"I've had a lot of close calls so far," said Coburn, who has played in 227 career NHL games. "You just have to wait for your time."

David Laliberte, playing in his first NHL game, and James Van Riemsdyk each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, unbeaten in their past six regulation games at home against Carolina.

"Actually, I was hoping I'd get a chance for another one," Coburn said.

Coburn's goals came within a span of 1:30 midway through the third period, the first with the teams skating 4-on-4, the next on a slap shot.

Brandon Sutter scored for the Hurricanes, who are off to their worst start since 1997 -- the franchise's first season in Carolina -- when they were 2-7-2. Carolina is winless on the road, and on an 0-5-3 skid overall.

Ray Emery, who stopped 28 shots in the Flyers' season-opening, 2-0 win over Carolina on Oct.2, made 39 saves in the rematch.

Michael Leighton, making his first start for the Hurricanes, stopped 22 shots.

"I felt a little rusty the first part of the game, but I felt good the second half," Leighton said. "I let up a couple of goals early and I gave up some rebounds that I usually don't give up."

Carolina coach Paul Maurice said he thought Leighton needed some game action after Cam Ward started the first 11 games.

"Leighton's been looking good in practice," Maurice said. "He's played well in this situation before."

Hartnell put the Flyers ahead with a power-play goal at 8:04 of the first period when he redirected Chris Pronger's shot from just inside the blue line.

Laliberte made it 2-0 at 12:30, putting in a rebound after Leighton failed to control Ryan Parent's initial shot. Carle earned his 100th NHL point with a wraparound goal at 17:21.

Sutter brought the Hurricanes to within 3-1 with a one-timer at 2:56 of the second, but Van Riemsdyk restored Philadelphia's three-goal lead 14 seconds later with a backhander from in close.

A total of 25 penalties for 68 minutes were assessed during the physical game.

"Guys are sticking up for each other and that's a big part of hockey," Van Riemsdyk said. "We're coming together as a team, becoming a cohesive unit."
 
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