The Carolina Hurricanes extended their winning streak to five games Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Air Canada Center in Toronto.
The victory for the Hurricanes (8-6-4) was the result of great play from the special teams units. Carolina scored both of its goals on special teams, one power-play goal and one shorthanded goal, and successfully killed three penalties. The Canes also outshot the Maple Leafs (8-8-3), 29-26.
The Maple Leafs took control of the game early with a snipe from defenseman Jake Gardiner to put Toronto up 1-0 just under six minutes into the game. Gardiner unloaded on a shot from just inside the blue line that sneaked into the top corner of the net past the shoulder of Canes goalie Cam Ward.
The shot from Gardiner was good, but the goal was made possible through the strong play of Leafs center Nazem Kadri. Kadri, who was credited with an assist, fought hard in front of the net to open up a lane for Gardiner’s shot.
The Hurricanes took advantage of a power play in the closing stages of the first period to even the game at 1-1. Maple Leafs defenseman Connor Carrick was called for holding with four minutes left in the period, and Canes winger Jeff Skinner found the back of the net for the power-play goal.
The goal was Skinner’s eighth of the season, and was the result of a fortunate deflection for the Canes. Skinner was in a crowd of players in front of the goal, and the puck took a deflection off of him and rolled into the back of the net.
After an evenly played first period which saw both teams put 10 shots on goal, the second opened up with the team’s continuing to split chances. The Canes successfully killed a Viktor Stalberg penalty early in the period, the 21st consecutive kill for the team dating back to Oct. 28.
Carolina gave away another power play to the Maple Leafs later in the second, this time on a hooking on Jay McClement. The Canes not only successfully killed this penalty, but took a 2-1 lead on a shorthanded goal from Stalberg. The goal was set up by center Elias Lindholm, who found Stalberg on a breakaway after taking the puck away from the Leafs.
The two teams continued to exchange chances in the third period, with both goalies coming up with a few huge saves. The Canes went down a man yet again late in the period, on a tripping penalty by McClement. Carolina’s penalty kill came up huge for a third time on the night, not allowing the Leafs to find a good look on goal.
Following their third and final penalty kill, the Canes were able to control the rest of the game and see the time run out with the 2-1 lead still in hand.
Carolina will hit the ice again on Thursday night as it will take on the Canadiens in Montreal.
