The Carolina Hurricanes scored in every possible way en route to a 4-3 overtime win against the Leafs Friday Night at Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto was resilient if nothing else. Despite being outshot eight to four in the opening period, the Leafs finished the first twenty minutes up 1-0. Dakota Joshua scored the lone goal, firing home a rebound created by a Bo Groulx shot that Hurricanes’ goalie, Brandon Bussi, left at the doorstep.
Toronto was unable to hold onto the lead, however. Carolina tied the game 5:57 into the second period. Jordan Staal netted his 17th of the season on the power play. The veteran tipped in a Seth Jarvis blast to even the score 1-1. The Hurricanes took the lead at 12:35 of the middle frame. Eric Robinson beat Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll, glove side, on a penalty shot to make it 2-1.
John Tavares responded with the equalizer for the Leafs just over a minute later. The centreman made a great individual play, winning a puck battle against Jacob Slavin behind the net before swooping around and sweeping the puck by Bussi with an elongated wrap-around.
K’Andre Miller put Carolina back on top at 17:34 of the second. The defencemen stole the puck from Morgan Rielly at his own blue line, skated in on a breakaway, and slipped a backhand past Woll to make it 3-2 after two periods.
William Nylander re-tied the game, 13:50 into the third period. The winger made a power drive to the net, stickhandling through several Hurricanes’ defenders before tucking the puck home.
Neither team scored after the Nylander goal, so they went to overtime. It did not take long to decide the victor. Forty-one seconds into the extra time, Alezander Nikishin fired a rocket from inside the circle to the far post for the 4-3 game winner.
Next up, the Leafs travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators, Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
