Maple Leafs 6, Hurricanes 3: Joffrey Lupul scored his seventh goal in five games to snap a tie late in the third period and added an assist as host Toronto avoided a season series sweep by Carolina.

Captain Dion Phaneuf and Tyler Bozak recorded a goal and two assists apiece, defenseman Cody Franson scored on the power play and Nikolai Kulemin set up Jay McClement for an empty-netter before notching one of his own for the Maple Leafs, who have earned points in each of their last seven games (4-0-3). James Reimer made 19 saves.

Alexander Semin registered a goal and an assist, captain Eric Staal scored short-handed and Jordan Staal gave Carolina a 3-2 lead 6:55 into the third. Justin Peters stopped 30 shots for the Hurricanes, who defeated Toronto 4-1 and 3-1 earlier in the season but are winless in seven games (0-6-1).

Lupul, who has scored in every contest since returning from a broken arm, carried the puck from his own zone all the way down the right side and around Carolina defenseman Joe Corvo before cutting across the crease and sliding it past Peters on a great individual effort. Lupul’s goal came 2:15 after he set up Phaneuf for a one-timer that knotted the contest at 3-3.

Trailing 2-0 after Franson’s goal and facing another penalty kill, Semin sprung Eric Staal with a breakout pass, and Staal tucked the puck between Reimer’s pads. Semin evened the contest less than five minutes later after the Maple Leafs took a penalty for too many men on the ice.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Maple Leafs C Phil Kessel added two assists for his first points in three games. … Toronto improved to 6-1-2 at home this month. … Toronto D Jake Gardiner was a healthy scratch after going minus-2 in his previous two games. … The Staal brothers combined for seven points in three games against the Maple Leafs.