Behind a dominant 3rd period, the Hurricanes overcome a two-goal hole to beat Toronto

On the heels of a very good win on Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres, the Carolina Hurricanes turned around and tried to do it again on Sunday in Toronto. Four players recorded multi-point games as the Canes used a strong group effort to beat the Sabres, 6-3, on home ice and win the first half of their back-to-back.

For Sunday's contest, the Canes turned to Brandon Bussi for the first time in over a week, trying to earn his fourth win in five starts. The lineup around him remained the same. The Maple Leafs also played on Saturday, falling to the Bruins, so they sent out rookie Dennis Hildeby to make his first start of the season after relieving Anthony Stolarz in their loss.

The first period was all about swings in momentum. William Nylander buried a beautifully created breakaway to open the scoring. Then, the Canes took control, getting a Sebastian Aho power-play goal and a Seth Jarvis snipe to take the lead. Toronto ended the period with momentum, taking a 3-2 lead into the first intermission, thanks to John Tavares and Nylander on the power play.

Luck was not on the Canes' side in the second. In the first seven minutes, the team hit the blocker-side post three times and had two more breakaways stopped. Naturally, Toronto got the next one after Auston Matthews was left alone at the side of the net. The Canes managed to find one as Sean Walker floated a shot from the point past Hildeby, making it a one-goal game heading into the third.

The third period was all Carolina, all the time. Taylor Hall popped home a rebound chance early in the frame to draw the Canes even after a great keep-in by Joel Nystrom. With under 8:00 to go, Nikolaj Ehlers forced a turnover, ending with Logan Stankoven snapping one to put the Canes back ahead. The Hurricanes outshot the Maple Leafs 22-2 in the third and held on for dear life to win, 5-4.

The stars were out on Sunday night for both teams

With both sides playing their third-string goalies during the second half of a back-to-back, each team needed to rely on their stars to determine how this game would play out. Toronto's certainly took the reins. William Nylander scored twice. Auston Matthews and John Tavares had a goal and an assist each. Matthew Knies had two helpers. On most nights, that would be enough to bury any team.

On Sunday night, the Canes' stars were just as potent, with each forward in the Top 6 finding the scoresheet. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each scored a goal. Andrei Svechnikov set up Jarvis's goal. Nikolaj Ehlers had a pair of helpers. Logan Stankoven had a goal and an assist. K'Andre Miller had two assists. For the 11th time this season, the Canes' depth shone.

The complexion of the 3rd period changed with Walker's late goal

It felt like the Hurricanes were doing everything right in the second period, but they weren't being rewarded. The iron on Dennis Hildeby's blocker side had a few dents in it. Instead, the Canes found themselves down a pair with just under nine minutes left in the second. Then, Sean Walker floated a shot home to cut it to a one-goal game. All of a sudden, the game looks completely different.

There's something about how well the Hurricanes have shut teams down in the third period without half of their defensive core. Tonight, the Canes manhandled the Leafs for the final 20 minutes. They played like a team desperate to tie the game, and, once they did, they refused to take their foot off the gas. It was a gutsy win for the group to complete a perfect weekend.

Additional Thoughts

It's getting old having to report on injuries to the defensive group, but the team was hit with another one tonight. During a scuffle at the end of the first period, Charles Alexis Legault cut his hand on Nicholas Robertson's skate. He was bleeding profusely, forcing him to miss the final 40 minutes. After the game, Rod Brind'Amour said Legault went to the hospital, but he'd be flying back with the team.

Brandon Bussi did not have a good night, but the team in front of him didn't help him out much in the first period and a half. Bussi overcommitted a time or two, leading to easy Toronto goals. However, he came up with a few big stops on Matthews and Tavares on the penalty kill to keep it at 4-3 late in the second. The team rallied around him in the third to get it over the finish line, so you can't be too upset.

It was a whirlwind week for the Hurricanes, but they finished it with four wins in various ways. It all started with a dominant road win at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, followed by three exhilarating wins in four nights. That they've done this with so many regulars out of the lineup is incredible. Imagine what this team could look like at full strength again.

Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes return to Raleigh to begin a three-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Capitals. After two days off, the Canes will face another weekend back-to-back, hosting Vancouver and Edmonton on Friday and Saturday. A four-game road trip awaits them on the other side, including return visits to Boston, Minnesota, and Buffalo, and Ehlers' return to Winnipeg.