4 takeaways from Leafs-Hurricanes: Woll’s injury casts cloud over thorough victory

This was the type of victory that fans and analysts alike were asking for the majority of the season. For the second consecutive game, the Toronto Maple Leafs thoroughly defeated an Eastern Conference power, toppling the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1. Bobby McMann scored twice, as the new-look third line remains on fire, Scott Laughton scored for the second consecutive game, while Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews each scored picturesque goals. Ordinarily, this would be cause for celebration, especially considering it’s their third consecutive win, while closing out a long, arduous road trip.Unfortunately, starting goaltender Joseph Woll sustained a lower-body injury and did not come out for the third period. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game he did not know the severity of Woll’s injury. It casts a shadow over what was otherwise one of the best games of the season.

Here are four takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ victory over the Hurricanes: 

Joseph Woll’s lower-body injury casts shadow over victoryWoll was in outstanding form for the Maple Leafs, since rejoining the team from a personal leave of absence. Woll posted a .924 save percentage in seven appearances prior to Thursday’s game, and was in great form against the Hurricanes, making 22 saves on 23 shots. Prior to the start of the third period, Woll was ruled out with a lower-body injury, with Dennis Hildeby entering the game in relief.

It came as a complete shock to Leafs reporters and fans alike, as no one saw when Woll sustained the ailment. Woll took on a heavy volume of starts with Anthony Stolarz recovering from an upper-body injury that kept him away from the team’s road trip. Hildeby was excellent in relief, and will almost certainly take on the majority of starts if Woll misses any time at all. Artur Akhtyamov isn’t ready for the NHL quite yet, but he may be forced into a backup role out of necessity, as the Leafs’ greatest position of strength has quickly dwindled.

The hope is that the Leafs were taking precautions about Woll’s injury, but there have been several injuries sustained this year initially listed as day-to-day, that took multiple weeks to recover from. Let’s hope that Woll avoided anything remotely serious.

The quick strike Leafs join the 2021-22 Lightning in the record books If you’re into absurd history, you’re going to love this: the quick strike 2025-26 Maple Leafs became the second team since the 2009-10 season to score on their first shot of the game, in four consecutive contests. This year’s team joins the 2021-22 Tampa Bay Lightning as the other team to reach this milestone during the past 15 years.

Fourth straight game where the Leafs score on their first shot!!!!!!

📽️: TSN | NHL

It’s a unique factoid, but it also speaks to the Maple Leafs’ offensive production over the past two weeks. Toronto has scored among the elite 5-on-5 teams but it often takes several minutes to get into the contest. This wasn’t the case on Thursday, as the red-hot third line came flying out of the gate, with Bobby McMann beating Frederik Andersen off the rush 53 seconds into the contest.

There may not be a ton of predictive value, but the Maple Leafs are quietly shooting the lights out. Everyone will be standing at attention on Saturday, during their return home against the Montreal Canadiens.

Knies-Matthews-Domi may be the optimal look for 1st line

It’s not good practice to use a small sample to predict larger trends, but there’s enough to suggest that Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews and Max Domi should remain together. Knies and Matthews are going to be stapled together, while the open right wing has been open to rotation, but it optimizes Domi’s place in the lineup, and he delivered two primary assists in the winning effort.

VERY KNIES!!!!!!

📽️: TSN | NHL

Knies was in terrific form throughout the evening and dragged the Hurricanes, quite literally. He poked the puck free during the second period and raced away past Shayne Gostisbehere, who has been in excellent form all year. Knies was brought to his feet, regained his composure, then sent Sebastian Aho flying, as the Hurricanes’ forward tried to back check in vain. Toronto’s star power forward then tucked the puck home with a gorgeous backhand. When Knies plays like this, there are few players in the league that are more entertaining or impactful.

The Captain delivers!!!!

📽️: TSN | NHL

Matthews is showing off his elite scoring touch again, and sniped home a Domi feed from a 2-on-1 in the third period. The play started when Knies kept his stick on the ice in the defensive zone, picking off Jordan Martinook, then started the three-man-weave in transition. Knies tied up Hurricanes defenceman Alexander Nikishin, and Domi threaded a lateral pass over to Matthews, who made no mistake. It was an excellent showing from the top line, while Matthews blocked six shots and was tremendous on the penalty kill.

Leafs’ power play still can’t find any answers

Toronto abandoned the five-forward power play, but still couldn’t find an answer. It wasn’t all bad, as Oliver Ekman-Larsson showed some good command of the unit and fired away on net, but the forwards couldn’t find a way to jam pucks home. Matthew Knies was placed on the second unit, while Easton Cowan remained with the first group, but the Leafs’ power play have converted on 10 of their past 67 chances. Yikes!

If there’s any room for positivity, it’s that the Maple Leafs seem bound for positive regression, and Matthews is showing real velocity on his shot again. And now it’s just a matter of finding room for Matthews and Nylander to get their shots off from the faceoff circles, while letting Ekman-Larsson orchestrate the group. It’s still a work in progress and against a sturdy Hurricanes penalty kill, there weren’t any answers with the man advantage.

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