Lack of discipline, sloppy defence cost Maple Leafs in loss to Predators
TORONTO (CP) — Randy Carlyle didn’t think his Toronto Maple Leafs could take much from their October victory over the Predators in Nashville.
It was so long ago it might as well have been ancient history. That was evident Thursday night when so much that went right for the Leafs last time around failed them in a 4-2 loss to the Predators at Air Canada Centre.
After jumping out to a lead, the Leafs abandoned much of what made them 8-20 at home going in. Defence in their own zone was spotty, and that, coupled with penalties, proved to be their undoing.
Craig Smith scored twice for the Predators, while rookie defenceman Seth Jones and Matt Cullen each had a goal. That overshadowed Peter Holland’s first goal with the Leafs since being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks.
Blues 3, Bruins 2
BOSTON (AP) — Derek Roy scored once in regulation and again in the fourth round of the shootout on Thursday night as the St. Louis Blues beat the Boston Bruins 3-2.
Jaroslav Halak stopped 27 shots in regulation, two more in the overtime and three in the shootout as St. Louis won for the fourth time in five games and continued the hottest start in its history. David Backes also scored for the Blues, and NHL points-leader Alexander Steen converted their other shootout goal after going the entire game without a shot.
Gregory Campbell and Carl Soderberg scored for Boston. Tuukka Rask made 24 saves and forced Roy to put one off the post on a breakaway in the first minute of the overtime.
Red Wings 4, Hurricanes 3
DETROIT (AP) — Henrik Zetterberg was credited with the tie-breaking goal in the third period, Gustav Nyquist had 2 goals and the Detroit Red Wings broke a sevengame game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
Zetterberg also had two assists and Darren Helm added a goal for Detroit. Jonas Gustavsson made 24 saves.
Andrej Sekera scored twice and Brett Bellemore got his first NHL goal for Carolina. Justin Peters stopped 43 shots.
Zetterberg was credited with a 5-on-3 power-play goal 8:29 into the third period to break a 2-2 tie when Hurricanes’ captain Eric Staal accidentally kicked the puck into his own net.
Nyquist, who had been called up from Grand Rapids of the AHL earlier in the day, scored on a breakaway with 4:04 left.
Sekera got his second goal with a shorthanded effort in the last minute.