Advantage goes to McElhinney
Ex-Leafs goalie helps Carolina beat former team
RALEIGH • Curtis McElhinney allowed himself a little smile on Wednesday morning, telling reporters that the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs that night would be “just another one on the resume.”
Discarded by the Leafs in October and claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes off waivers, McElhinney got some redemption, making 30 saves as the Hurricanes beat the Leafs 5-2 at PNC Arena.
The loss was just the Leafs’ second in 11 road games, dropping their record to 9-20 with a game in Columbus against the Blue Jackets next on Friday night.
Serious thoughts of another Toronto road victory were scuttled when Micheal Ferland scored on a power play at 7:45 of the third period. Both Ron Hainsey and Par Lindholm were unable to clear the zone before Ferland blasted a shot past Frederik Andersen.
The Leafs were able to respond when Kasperi Kapanen scored his ninth goal of the season with eight minutes to play, but could not beat McElhinney again. Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov both scored into an empty net.
The Leafs had a spirited come-from-behind win against Columbus on Monday at home and were looking to win for the eighth time in nine games.
What actually unfolded before an announced crowd of 12,562 — a total that may or may have been padded — was bizarre.
The Leafs had some ugly moments in the first period and were down 2-1 after 20 minutes, but weren’t vastly outplayed, or so it appeared.
Still, the shots clock read 29-11 in favour of the Hurricanes when the period ended, the most in the first period by one team in the NHL since 1997-98. The Leafs record for most shots against in one period is 32, done by the Hartford Whalers in a game in 1984.
Carolina leads the NHL in shots on goal this season; still, Andersen was not beleaguered through 20 minutes. The Hurricanes were credited with 12 shots on goal in the first 10 minutes, 17 in the following 10 and none in the next 10.
In fact, the Leafs held the Hurricanes to two shots on goal in the second period, the fewest Toronto has allowed in one period this season.
Mike Babcock’s adjustments and/or rant during the first intermission must have been amazing.
Carolina took a 2-0 lead with goals 22 seconds apart.
Trevor van Riemsdyk slipped the puck into the net at 10:56 after a prolonged scramble and after Andersen lost his blocker. Babcock challenged for goalie interference, to no avail; he might as well have challenged his players to clear the puck, as Toronto had several chances to do so but failed.
Hurricanes captain Justin Williams scored the second goal at 11:18 after he was left alone by Nikita Zaitsev in front, easily tapping a pass behind Andersen.
John Tavares scored his sixth goal in seven games and 14th of the season at 15:30 after he intercepted a Williams pass and skated in alone on McElhinney, beating the goalie on the stick side.
Carolina finished with 45 shots on goal, tying for the most the Leafs have allowed in one game this season.
The match marked the first meeting between the Leafs and Carolina, one of many clubs that is interested in unsigned restricted free agent William Nylander and one that has scouted the Leafs extensively.
One of the players involved in speculation if a trade happens, defenceman Brett Pesce, did not play because of a lower-body injury.
Question is, will Nylander be in the Leafs lineup for Toronto’s next visit on Dec. 11? Could he be wearing red and black that night? Anything is possible, but the belief remains that the Leafs want to re-sign Nylander above everything else.
The deadline of Dec. 1 to do so, in order for Nylander to play this season, looms.
LOOSE LEAFS
Auston Matthews was on the ice for the morning skate and then stayed out longer with Garret Sparks and healthy scratches Martin Marincin and Justin Holl. We could have a better idea after Thursday afternoon, when the Leafs are scheduled to practise at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, whether Matthews has a firmer date in mind to return from a shoulder injury. Saturday marks four weeks since Matthews was hurt against Winnipeg … Before taking questions following the morning skate, Babcock offered condolences to the family of Dan Maloney, who passed away on Monday. “Dan Maloney’s family, thinking of him,” Babcock said. “Former alumni, both player and coach, a good man. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”