Andersen makes 31 saves, Hurricanes hold off Maple Leafs

Frederik Andersen made 32 saves for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 2-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at PNC Arena on Sunday.

Andersen improved to 6-0-0 since returning from a blood clotting issue that caused him to miss 50 games.

“I haven’t really thought too much about it,” Andersen said. “I’m trying to do what I can do to be my best. I’ve got a lot of help here and a support system around me. It’s been really fun. You appreciate being back doing this. It feels good.”

Sebastian Aho and Brady Skjei scored for the Hurricanes (45-20-7), who are 9-1-1 in their past 11 games.

“It was a good start and really it was a great game until they got that one (goal),” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Overall, a great effort. We had tons of opportunities, they had theirs. For a low-scoring game, quite a few opportunities.”

Nicholas Robertson scored for the Maple Leafs (40-21-9), who had won two in a row and four of their past six. Joseph Woll made 41 saves.

“It just comes down to a goal,” Woll said. “I thought we played well and gave ourselves the opportunity. I thought Freddie had a good game.”

Skjei gave Carolina a 1-0 lead at 1:06 of the first period. He took a pass from Jordan Staal and scored with a wrist shot under Woll’s left arm.

“I just try to get it through, try to get it on net, get it through traffic,” Skjei said. “That’s not exactly where I was trying to shoot, but we’ll take it. That team’s got some firepower. So, getting that lead and trying to maintain that [was important].”

Aho extended it to 2-0 at 13:55 on the power play. His pass attempt across the slot deflected off the left skate of Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe and into the net.

“That’s how it works sometimes,” Aho said. “I’ll take it.”

The goal extended Aho’s point streak to six games (six goals, six assists). The 26-year-old forward has 80 points (31 goals, 49 assists) this season, three shy of his career high he set in 2018-19.

“I feel like I still have another level to get to, and I just keep working for it,” Aho said. “I’m a fairly young guy, and I feel like I can improve in many areas.”

Robertson cut it to 2-1 at 8:51 of the third period, scoring on a one-timer from the right face-off circle off a short pass from Auston Matthews.

Carolina’s penalty kill limited Toronto to five shots on four power plays.

“We are playing against one of the best defensive teams in the League, and they make it hard on you,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We had some chances, but they don’t give you much.”

The Hurricanes have held their opponents without a power-play goal in 10 of their past 11 games.

“I’ve got to give Freddie a ton of credit. He was our best player,” Skjei said. “He helped us out on the kill a lot. That power play can really get snapping around. When we gave up a chance, Freddie was there to bail us out.

“He’s always been really good for us. I didn’t think this break would have changed that. Obviously, he has a crazy life scare and we’re just happy he’s healthy, and that comes before hockey. But he’s a solid goaltender. There’s no way around that.”