Raleigh, NC (My Sportsbook) - Radim Vrbata and Matt Cullen each recorded shootout goals, as Carolina edged Toronto, 4-3, at the RBC Center.

Martin Gerber made 35 saves in regulation and stopped two more during the shootout phase to help the Hurricanes stop a three-game losing streak. Rookie Andrew Ladd recorded his first career goal in the win, while Eric Staal and Bret Hedican also tallied for Carolina.

Jason Allison, Chad Kilger and former Hurricane Jeff O'Neill had goals in the defeat, the Maple Leafs' second in a row off a four-game win streak. Mikael Tellqvist finished with 32 saves.

Toronto thought it had the game won in the opening minute of overtime when Mats Sundin took in a pass from Alex Steen and fired a shot in close that was blocked in front and covered by Gerber. Replays showed the puck crossed the line before Gerber kicked it out with his skate, but officials ruled that play had already been stopped.

"I don't know how they missed it, it was in twice," said Toronto head coach Pat Quinn. I don't know who missed it, the referee, the people upstairs, but it's clearly a bad call. The red light was on way before the whistle blew, and that was the second time it was in net, not the first time."

Sundin would start the shootout, but came up short as Gerber blocked the attempt with his chest. Vrbata then stepped up for Carolina and beat Tellqvist up high for the early advantage.

Gerber then got a glove on O'Neill's shot, which landed harmlessly over the net, and Cullen decided the contest by faking right and placing the puck into the left side.

"That was an exciting game," said Hurricanes head coach Peter Laviolette. "The building was alive tonight. It was a lot of fun out there."

Toronto trailed 3-2 in the third period, but knotted the score when Kilger ripped a shot by Gerber with 8:37 to go after a faceoff win by Eric Lindros.

Each team scored once on the power play during an evenly-played first period. Carolina struck first when Hedican, camped at the left point, one-timed a feed from Rod Brind'Amour nearly five minutes after the opening whistle.

Toronto had a two-man advantage for almost a minute late in the opening period. The Hurricanes would kill off the first penalty, but the Leafs would draw even with 15 seconds left on the 5-on-4.

Steen received the puck at the top of the left circle and sent it in front to O'Neill, who lifted it above Gerber's shoulder with 1:15 remaining in the session.

Staal single-handedly gave Carolina a 2-1 lead at the 3:40 mark of the second. With Toronto on the power play, the standout young center stole the puck from defenseman Tomas Kaberle and skated in alone down the right side. Staal then slipped a shot under Tellqvist's pads for his 16th goal of the year.

Toronto would again tie it nearly 10 minutes later while on an odd-man rush. Kaberle delivered a cross-ice pass to Allison, who flipped the puck up high and into the net.

However, the Hurricanes would regain the upperhand with 2:18 remaining before the second intermission with an odd power-play goal that was credited to Ladd. Ladd threw the puck through the crease into traffic and it bounced off Kaberle's stick before trickling underneath Tellqvist and over the line, just past the outstretched stick of a diving Nik Antropov of the Maple Leafs.

Game Notes

O'Neill played nine seasons for the Hartford/Carolina franchise from 1995-2004...Kaberle's assist was the 200th of his career...Hurricanes defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, sidelined since October 8 with a hip injury, had two assists in his return to the lineup...Brind'Amour had missed Carolina's last four games with a sore groin and the Hurricanes activated Glen Wesley (groin) from the injured list prior to the game...Toronto's Darcy Tucker missed the game to be with his wife, who is expecting the couple's second child...Ladd, the fourth overall pick of the 2004 draft, was playing in his third NHL game...Carolina's Justin Williams assisted on Ladd's goal to extend his point-scoring streak to six games.