After the Carolina Hurricanes endured a tough divisional back-to-back, the team heads out on the road for the next three contests, beginning in Toronto on Friday night. The Hurricanes and the Penguins tied an NHL record by scoring four game-tying goals during a seven-goal third period before the Canes eventually prevailed in overtime, 6-5, to earn their mid-week split.
The Stankoven line played a big part in the team's win over the Penguins. Each forward scored a goal, combining for seven points in the game. Jackson Blake led the way with three, scoring his 20th goal of the season in the second before assisting on goals by Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven in the third. Sebastian Aho's assist in overtime was the 700th point of his career.
On the Other Side: Toronto Maple Leafs
Last meeting: The Leafs made their only visit to Raleigh on December 4, and it was smooth sailing for them. They scored early in the first period, and the lead remained theirs until the very end. Bobby McMann scored twice, former Hurricanes Max Domi and Nicolas Roy had a pair of assists, and their defense allowed next to nothing. Seth Jarvis was the lone Carolina goal scorer in a 5-1 Toronto win.
While this season was never the smoothest for the Maple Leafs, they were enjoying moderate success in mid-January. After an overtime win in Colorado on January 12, Toronto was in a playoff spot. That's when their season took a turn for the worse. They've won just six times over their last 24 games, falling to the bottom of the conference and likely out of the playoff picture.
These struggles prompted them to be massive sellers at the trade deadline, making moves to find Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton, and Bobby McMann new homes for the remainder of the season. They were also dealt a massive blow when their captain, Auston Matthews, was injured after a dirty knee-to-knee hit by Anaheim's Radko Gudas. It has knocked him out for the remainder of the season.
Even with their moves and the loss of their captain, Toronto still has plenty to keep the Hurricanes busy. John Tavares always finds a way to make an impact against Carolina. Matthew Knies is a young piece with plenty of room to grow. They just need their defense and goalies to pick up some of the slack, sitting second-to-last in the league in goals allowed.
Maple Leafs to Watch
William Nylander: Without Matthews in the lineup, the next guy up is Nylander. The Leafs' leading scorer despite missing 17 games, Nylander has 63 points and a team-leading 40 helpers. He scored twice when the Canes visited Toronto in November, but he was held off the scoresheet in December. He had an eight-game point streak snapped on Tuesday and has been held scoreless in two straight.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson: While the defense has been subpar for Toronto this season, Ekman-Larsson is enjoying his best campaign in seven years. He leads Toronto's defense in scoring with 35 points, and he's still skating big minutes at 34 years old. Ekman-Larsson hasn't scored a point in a little under a month, so he's due for something in the near future.
Hurricanes to Watch
Nikolaj Ehlers: It seems like it has flown under the radar, but Ehlers is enjoying an excellent March. In nine games, Ehlers has 12 points, and he's on a three-game assist streak. Ehlers assisted on three of the Canes' six goals on Wednesday night, tied for his most this season, to earn his sixth three-point contest as a Hurricane. It would be nice to see him get back in the goal column now.
Sean Walker: The game-winning goal in overtime against the Penguins came off of Walker's stick, burying the first overtime goal of his career. He also provided the primary assist on the game-tying goal from his defensive partner. Walker is just off pace to set a new career-best in points, but he has been outstanding of late, with three points in his last three games.