Hurricanes Look For First 3 Game Winning Streak In Toronto

The Hurricanes are coming off a back to back home wins and are now heading back on the road to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Hurricanes played one of their best games on Sunday considering all of the injuries. The Hurricanes were vastly out played in the first period, which goaltending kept them in it . Then the Hurricanes played a great 2nd and 3rd period which included Brind’Amour getting the game winner and Bret Carson scoring his first NHL goal to give the Hurricanes insurance. Now they take on a team that the Hurricanes split with at home. This game is the start of a two game original six road trip that also stops in Detroit on Thursday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had separated them selves from the Hurricanes til recently. The Maple Leafs come into tonights game limping. The Maple Leafs are 2-6-1 in their last 10 and have dropped back into 28th place, 6 points ahead of Hurricanes. Leafs head coach Ron Wilson recently ripped star player Phil Kessel who has slipped into a slump after a great start. “You have one (expletive) goal in your last 10 games,” Wilson said to Kessel. “I could single out a bunch of guys but he’s our best player,” said Wilson. “And a lot of times that needs to be the message.” Wilson and the Leafs seemed to have things turned around, but now have slipped back into a slump meaning a meeting of the two worst in the eastern conference. Former college star Tyler Bozak will center Kessel in only his second NHL game. Bozak had an assist against Colorado in his NHL debut Oct. 13. Center Rickard Wallin, who hasn’t scored in 34 games this season, returns to the fourth line.

The Hurricanes seem to be heading in a different direction with the Hurricanes winning 4 out of their last 6 games including wins over Washington, Ottawa, New York Rangers, and Colorado. A lot of the Hurricanes success can be attributed to their goaltender. Cam Ward single handedly kept the Hurricanes in the game on Sunday and had a near shutout against Colorado on Friday. If Ward continues to play this way we should see a change in confidence for this team and maybe a more enjoyable 2nd half of the season. On another good note the Hurricanes had a fifth line. Yes I said fifth line which consists of Samsonov, LaRose, and Cole. All three could be back in the lineup as soon as Thursday against Detroit. With a team like Toronto the Hurricanes need to jump on them early. The Leafs are a lot like the Hurricanes with fraglie confidence. Try to draw a couple of penalties and capitalize and the Leafs could just go away. Heres to a great game tonight.

News & Notes: Maurice’s first trip to Toronto this season
River Rat’s bringing energy to the Hurricanes lineup
Hurricanes look for first 3 game winning streak

Injuries: CAR Joe Corve (Laceration)
CAR Chad LaRose (Lower Body)
CAR Scott Wal ker (Shoulder)
CAR Erik Cole (Upper Body)
CAR Sergei Samsonov (Upper Body)
TOR Mikhail Grabovski (Broken Wrist)
TOR Wayne Primeau (Knee)
TOR Mike Komisarek (Upper Body)
TOR Carl Gunnarson (Elbow)

Prediction CAR 4 TOR 2 F

Check out the crazy game the two played in November at the RBC Center