Why is it always the Leafs?

Whenever the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs play each other, the chances that the game will be insane shoot through the roof for some reason. All you have to do is check the history of Steve Dangle Glynn with the Canes to see some of his best reactions. Sunday night was no exception as the Canes came back from a 4-2 deficit to beat the Leafs on Hockey Hall of Fame Night 5-4.

The first period was about as bonkers as was expected. After both teams witnessed the Hockey Hall of Fame Ceremony, there was a question about what sort of start you’d see. That was answered five minutes in when William Nylander converted on the rush. It started when Morgan Rielly started behind his own net and whipped a great pass off the wall in front of the team benches, Matthew Knies took the puck and fed a streaking Nylander. Nylander had beaten Mike Reilly and was able to get the puck past Brandon Bussi for the 1-0 lead.

Carolina would answer quickly with their second power play goal in a row thanks to an outstanding feed from Nikolaj Ehlers. Sebastian Aho won the faceoff to start the Power Play, and the Canes were able to quickly cycle it around for Aho to blast it past Dennis Hildeby to knot it at one.

Six minutes later the top line for the Canes converted thanks to another outstanding pass, this one from a red hot Andrei Svechnikov, who fed a streaking Seth Jarvis for Jarvis’ tenth on the season.

The Canes were unable to enjoy the lead for long, though, as the superstars for Toronto exerted themselves quickly. First John Tavares converted on another rush for the Leafs, as the Canes got a little too foucsed on the puck and staring goalie Brandon Bussi was unable to stop a rebound that went right to Tavares. Then near the end of the period, the Canes penalty kill gave up a rare power play goal as they were unable to clear the zone, and Tavares fed Nylander for the one-timer that was blasted past Bussi.

The first period ended with a 3-2 score, the Canes putting more shots on goal with 12-10 but the stars for the Leafs being the stars. It also ended with a scrum that resulted in Charles Alexis Legault getting a pretty serious cut on his hand, bad enough to where he was ruled out for the rest of the game. Once again, and for way too many times this early in the season, the Canes had to skate with just five defensemen.

Being short a defensemen showed for the Canes as the craziness continued into the second period, even though for the first few minutes it didn’t result in any goals. Carolina tried to make it three straight Power Play conversions but were unable to convert, and before the first TV timeout the Canes had several breakways, and hit the post or crossbar on each of them. That would prove costly for the Canes as Toronto was able to convert with the defensive miscommunications. The other star for the Leafs Austin Matthews got in on the action with yet another breakdown where Bussi couldn’t corral the puck. Matthews was all alone next to the net and was able to tap it in. Toronto led 4-2, but the Canes were able to get it back to one thanks to a goal from the Staal line.

It was fitting that this line was the one to convert, as instead of tying to do something fancy to beat Hildeby, they just grinded and put the puck on net. In this case, Will Carrier was able to get the puck in deep allowing the Canes to set up, and dished it off to Sean Walker. Walker blasted it by Hildeby to get the Canes out of the second period down just 4-3.

With an intermission to calm down and discuss how to play the rest of the game with just five defensement, the Canes completely locked the Leafs down in the third. After giving up 18 total shots in the first two periods the Canes would just give up two in the third, and that was with the Leafs having a Power Play. In the meantime on offense the Canes got back to the style of hockey they wanted to play—putting pucks on net and it paid dividends. Three minutes into the third, the Canes stormed the net on a partial change. Joel Nystrom saved the puck from going out of the zone and got it to the net. Logan Stankoven fed it to Jackson Blake, who put on a shot, and Taylor Hall was able to cash in on the rebound.

The Canes continued to pressure the Leafs, and the air seemed to go out of the arena once it was tied. Sure enough, with eight minutes left Ehlers made a wonderful defensive play, stealing the puck, and fed K’Andre Miller, who dropped to an open Stankoven. Stankoven burried the shot and the Canes were up 5-4.

The Canes continued to lock down Toronto for the rest of the period, and the Leafs got very little empty net time. The one chance the Leafs had in the period may have exmplified just how bonkers the night was. On their Power Play with a chance to seize momentum, Nylander missed a wide open net. Toronto wouldn’t get close again the rest of the night.

The Canes outshot Toronto 22-2 in the third period. That is not a typo. Toronto was unable to establish the rush they had gotten in the first two periods because the Canes just kept putting the puck on the net.

Carolina now improves to 11-4-0 on the season, and play again Tuesday Night against the Capitals, where Freddie Andersen is expected to start between the pipes.