The Toronto Maple Leafs scored early and often, defeating the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 on Saturday night. This victory showcases the Leafs’ dominance as they have now won four of their past five games.
Welcoming back star players, captain Auston Matthews and forward Mitch Marner from the Four Nations Face-Off tournament, the Maple Leafs took control from the get-go. They enjoyed their first home game since the break at Scotiabank Arena, and the energy was palpable.
Starting strong, the Leafs built an impressive 4-0 lead by the end of the first period, much to the delight of the crowd. Their scoring was ignited by Alex Steeves, who marked his first career NHL goal just 2:50 minutes after puck drop. Following Steeves, Pontus Holmberg was credited with the second goal after Jordan Staal accidentally sent the puck past his own goalie, Pyotr Kochetkov, during some chaotic play near the net.
David Kampf extended the Leafs’ lead even more at 6:39, scoring after orchestrated passing with teammates Steven Lorentz and Steeves, who earned his second point of the night. John Tavares rounded off the scoring frenzy at 15:06, skillfully finishing off a pass from William Nylander after creating space by faking a shot.
The second period was more subdued with neither team finding the back of the net, as Toronto maintained their commanding 4-0 lead heading to the final frame. Just past the halfway mark of the third period, the Hurricanes finally got on the scoreboard when defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere scored during crowded action near the crease.
The momentum shifted quickly when Andrei Svechnikov scored his goal just moments later, at 14:46, cutting Toronto's lead to 4-2. Subsequently, Jaccob Slavin pushed the Canes within one at 15:06 with another goal, igniting concern among Leafs fans as the scoreboard showed 4-3 with just minutes left.
Despite the late-game surge from Carolina, Matthews confirmed the win for Toronto with over one minute left when he found the empty net at 18:37. Holmberg sealed the victory even more dramatically with his second empty-net goal at 19:40, establishing the final score at 6-3.
Holmberg was undoubtedly the star of the match, contributing with two goals and one assist, showcasing his impressive play. "He has the capability of putting the puck in the net, for sure," commented Leafs coach Craig Berube. With Holmberg stepping up, the absence of others due to injury seemed less impactful.
Steeves’ entry to the game proved fruitful. Not only did he score, but he also assisted on another goal, rounding out his statistics as he built on his AHL success.
Anthony Stolarz guarded the net for the Maple Leafs, making 31 saves and holding strong against the Hurricanes' onslaught late in the game. Despite the late goals conceded, Stolarz's early saves allowed the Leafs to build their initial lead. "He played well for us and made some really key saves," noted Berube.
The performance of the Carolina Hurricanes leaves fans questioning what went wrong as they have now staggered with four losses out of five games. Players like Svechnikov and Gostisbehere tried to rally the team back, but their late-game efforts fell short of achieving more than mere consolation goals.
Following the game, the Maple Leafs prepare for another challenge as they head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks, aiming to improve their record to 34-20-2.
This matchup against the Hurricanes marks the start of their back-to-back games. The Leafs will need to maintain the momentum built from this victory to meet the demands of their upcoming schedule and the continued development of their team dynamics.