1st Period Takeaways
Penalty Kill
Haydn Fleury took a penalty getting back in trying to stop a two on one opportunity that the Leafs had. The penalty kill bailed him out by having an absolutely shutdown type of a kill. Later in the period, the Hurricanes took a bench minor for too many men on the ice and the penalty kill finished the period leaving 50 seconds left on the penalty to start the second period.
Challenge
William Nylander was way offside on a two on one that led to a goal, but the Hurricanes challenged, and they won it. The Hurricanes responded by scoring a goal of their own by Justin Williams who beat Garret Sparks who didn’t control the post and somehow leaked through him.
Put it on the net and good things happen! pic.twitter.com/vzaIjFr8o4
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 3, 2019
The challenge and goal late in the period completely shifted momentum towards the Hurricanes. That was much needed, especially since the Hurricanes controlled the first period offensively, to score the first goal. The forecheck was a huge factor in the way the Hurricanes operated offensively. Lucas Wallmark had a grade-A chance set up by Jordan Martinook, but he missed on the shot.
Petr Mrazek
Petr Mrazek wasn’t really tested much during the first period. Although Toronto had a few two on one’s the defense was there, or something happened to prevent the scoring chance (challenge and penalty). Mrazek had a few chances on him towards the end of the period on Toronto’s power play, but they were handled by the Hurricanes.