Goals Under Review - Carolina Hurricanes @ Toronto Maple Leafs

With both teams forced to look in the standing’s rearview mirror, which team brings the effort to win a game both top teams need to win?

Toronto opens the scoring with a great goal. The Hurricanes are playing at home and they play a disciplined brand of hockey on the defensive end. The Maple Leafs got them moving outside their standard set defense and found a shooting lane to convert the shot into a goal. Considering the meaning of this game when framed against the standings, this is how you want to see the Leafs start the game. A couple of games ago, they looked like they didn’t care. One game ago, they were outplayed by a formidable team. Now, they are playing a tough team and they have come out with the opening goal. Maple Leafs 1-0

The second goal of the game is scored by Mitch Marner and wow, what an effort and what a shot. Marner stands out in my mind right now as a Maple Leaf who is playing very well. I feel like I’ve noticed him in the last few games and it’s more than just a good play here and there, it’s a real impact on the team. Marner is one of the stars of the team, this isn’t a depth player playing above their weight class, but when the stars of the team are leading the charge, the margin for error increases, and the room for depth to help out also increases. Maple Leafs 2-0

When Carolina gets on the board it’s for a goal that I’m sure the goalie would want back. The defense had decent coverage in the zone, the shot just trickles under the arm. Maybe the defense could have been better positioned but on a shot so close to being saved, you don’t want to give the Hurricanes any ideas that they can make this a game. Maple Leafs 2-1

A few minutes before the first period is over Matthews scores on a really fluky Power Play goal. If I’m a Carolina fan, I would like to see the Canes make the zone entry a little more difficult. Even if they give up the entry, the follow on the PK was not good. Matthews had a free trip to the front of the net when the shot takes a bounce off his pads and into the net. This game is all about keeping your spot in the standings and to give up a goal in that fashion feels like the effort could have been better. Maple Leafs 3-1

Carolina’s next and final (spoilers) goal is the kind I can’t really fault the Penalty Kill. The Hurricanes got the shot off and the rebound found its way to the Hurricane’s stick. The penalty killers are trying to cover, but a rebound right to the other team is hard to deal with. We know now it was the last goal they would score and you hope there is enough offense from the Leafs where they can make up for the goal. It’s goals like this that make the first missed save hurt a little bit more. Maple Leafs 3-2

Going back to the opening question about this game, the Hurricanes give up a goal on a turnover and a great two-man effort from the Leafs. Mistakes happen but this looks like the kind of mistake you see on screen and think to yourself, “dude, get your head in the game!” Being down two after giving up a goal where one team scores on effort and a pretty finish and the Canes give up the goal via mistake feels like the game might be over. Maple Leafs 4-2

The final goal of the game is scored on a 2-on-1 rush and a great shot. The Leafs have to be feeling good about the game. With a three-goal lead and eleven minutes left, Carolina is not going to score 4 goals to get the win in regulation and you have to feel good about not giving up three goals for the tie. Maple Leafs 5-2 (Final)

Toronto wins the game and keeps the goal out of their net for the rest of the game. Carolina is now looking at a one-point lead for the Metro Division and Toronto has forced Tampa Bay to keep playing catch up.