Hurricanes top Maple Leafs, remain undefeated
The Carolina Hurricanes remained undefeated with a 4-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at PNC Arena on Monday.
Frederik Andersen made 24 saves in his first game against Toronto since signing a two-year contract with Carolina on July 28.
“The most difficult part was to not think about what they’re going to do because I know them so well,” said Andersen, who played his previous five seasons with the Maple Leafs. “You kind of play those mind games a little bit. It was tough mentally to shut that off and not try to analyze every play and just react to it.”
Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist, and Jaccob Slavin had two assists for the Hurricanes (5-0-0).
Auston Matthews scored his first goal of the season for the Maple Leafs (2-4-1), who are 0-3-1 in their past four games. Jack Campbell made 32 saves.
“When you’re playing against the Carolina Hurricanes, I think they set the standard in the League,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Despite the fact that we competed at a higher level today that was required in the game, it’s still not to the level necessary to be able to compete with a team like that. That’s the hardest game we’ve played this season by a wide margin.”
Matthews gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 3:25 of the first period when he gathered the puck in the left corner and tucked the puck inside the right post on a wraparound.
“It feels good,” Matthews said. “I would rather have taken the win, but hopefully that’s a positive step for me moving forward.”
Sebastian Aho tied it 1-1 at 7:02 of the second period on a redirection of Ethan Bear’s shot from the point.
Steven Lorentz then gave Carolina a 2-1 lead at 9:25, winning a battle in the slot with Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin before spinning and beating Campbell five-hole.
“I was fortunate enough to get a good step and I won the body positioning against their D-man,” Lorentz said. “I just wanted to get the puck to the net. I didn’t know if there would be a rebound or not, but I’m very fortunate it went in.”
Said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, “[Campbell] was playing really well. To that point he was the difference in the game. We were able to get a couple that found their way in. Once you get ahead, the game changes a little bit.”
Nino Niederreiter pushed the lead to 3-1 at 16:49 of the second. Slavin stickhandled past Mitchell Marner before passing to Niederreiter, who skated out from along the goal line and slid the puck five-hole again on Campbell.
“I felt really good, but those three goals, I have the ability to make those saves,” Campbell said. “(If) I make those saves, we win the game.”
Svechnikov scored an empty-net goal at 19:00 of the third period for the 4-1 final. He has nine points (five goals, four assists) during a season-opening five-game point streak.
“I like how hard we’re playing,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s not always going to be perfect, and you don’t always expect it to be, but the effort is there and it’s making up for a lot of the mistakes we’re making. I love the work ethic of the group.”
How your buds line up in Carolina#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Fp8MzSMlfz
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 25, 2021
Welcome to the club, @AM34 👏#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/3L2UpJ7t9T
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 25, 2021