To say that both of these teams are struggling is an understatement. The Carolina Hurricanes are 2-5-1 in their last eight games. The Toronto Maple Leafs come into this game as the last place team in the Northeast Division and the 14th place team out of 15 in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs have lost 11 of their last 13 so you knew this was going to be an intense affair. The Canes started the game with Michael Leighton in goal while the Maple Leafs started with their number one goaltender Vesa Toskala. The Canes were able to get Glen Wesley, Ray Whitney, Trevor Letowski, and Wade Brookbank back from the flu epidemic with Matt Cullen and Scott Walker waiting in the wings to return soon.

This first period was hard fought for both teams to say the least. No one could put any points on the scoreboard; yet, it wasn’t for lack of effort. The play between these two teams definitely intensified after Wade Brookbank tripped Darcy Tucker at 3:41 into the period. The Canes were able to kill this penalty off without giving up a goal. Both goaltenders played tough after they were both tested throughout the period. The Canes were outshot 7 to 11 in the first period.

The second period picked up where the first left off and the scoring machine got turned on for both teams. Mike Commodore got called for a hooking Mats Sundin at 3:45 in the period, and of course, the Maple Leafs scored six seconds later when Tomas Kaberle scored on a 50 foot wristshot from the point. Kaberle was able to get a screen in front of the net from one of his teammates along with Carolina players Glen Wesley and Dennis Seidenberg blocking Michael Leighton’s view to put it in the net. At 7:15 into the period, Toskala was called for interference when tripped Eric Staal near the front of the net. The Canes scored a power play goal when Eric Cole on the side of the net passed the puck to Sergei Samsonov who slid it in the open net past Toskala at 7:37. This was Samsonov’s first goal in 30 games. Later, Chad LaRose turned the puck over in the neutral zone allowing Toronto to bring it in the zone allowing Chad Kilger to skate in on Michael Leighton and score at 9:16. Sergei Samsonov was then called for hooking Alexei Ponikarovsky at 10:16 into the period putting the Maple Leafs back on the power play. Luckily, again the Canes were able to kill it off. Erik Cole was able to get the puck in the defensive zone and carry it to the Leaf’s zone. Leaf’s Goaltender Toskala came out of the crease at which time Cole was able to take the puck around him and slide it into the open net at 13:00. Mike Commodore was called for holding Alexei Ponikarovsky at 17:06 putting the Leaf’s back on the power play. The Leafs shot the puck hitting the boards behind the Carolina net. The puck then bounced back hitting Canes Goaltender Michael Leighton and Matt Stajan tapped it into the net at 18:55. The Canes were outhustled most of this period as the Maple Leafs lived around the Cane’s crease. The Hurricanes were outshot 6 to 12 in the period.

Cam Ward started in net at the beginning of the third period even though Michael Leighton did not play bad in the first two periods particularly when you consider the Canes were totally outplayed for most of both periods. Andrew Ladd got a pass from Eric Staal in the neutral allowing Ladd to take the puck into the zone and shoot on Toskala. The rebound went back to Ladd who again shot the puck putting it behind Toskala at 1:54 into the period. Dennis Seidenberg was called for tripping Mats Sundin at 3:05 even though there was a question as to whether he tripped Sundin or the official had caused the fall. Cam Ward was able to save a goal several times before he was scored on by Alexei Ponikarovsky after the Canes failed to clear the zone at 5:06 which was one second after the power play had expired. Boyd Devereaux was called for slashing Cory Stillman at 5:59 in the third even though the Leafs were able to kill the penalty off. Ponikarovsky hooked Chad LaRose down, and of course, there was no call. Ian White then shot from beyond the circle near the blue line hitting Glen Wesley’s skate and going around Cam Ward at 8:20 in the period. The Canes did get a call their way when Ian White was called for slashing Chad LaRose at 10:04 even though the Canes could not score in the power play. The Canes pulled Goaltender Cam Ward for final 1:25. Ray Whitney was able to score with 8.6 seconds to go and the Canes even had a chance with three seconds to go. The Canes were outshot in the period 12 to 13.

There’s not a lot left to say on this one. The Canes were outplayed from the opening drop of the puck, and the question everyone is asking is why did they start Michael Leighton? It was good to see some of the familiar faces back for our team. It was just sad to see the same game we have watched for weeks where the opposition continues to skate to the front of the Canes’ net. The odd man rushes continue to kill the Canes, and again the goaltending is average at best. The bottom line is they have to play with more intensity and find a way to stop the defensive lapses and breakdowns that have become too common this season. Since Atlanta beat Detroit tonight, the Thrashers will move into first place in the Southeast putting the Hurricanes on the outside. The Thrashers are tied with the Canes in points; yet, the Thrashers moved into first place since they have one more win and a game in hand. The next few days should be interesting.

GAME STATS
Shots on Goal: Canes 25 Maple Leafs 36
Hits: Canes 31 Maple Leafs 22
Face-Offs Won: Canes 31 Maple Leafs 31
Power Play: Canes 1-3 Maple Leafs 2-3
Venue: Air Canada Centre A-19,444

HURRICANES INJURIES:
· Bret Hedican: Sprained knee, injured reserve
· David Tanabe: Concussion, injured reserve
· Justin Williams: ACL/MCL, injured reserve, 4 to 6 months
· Matt Cullen: Concussion, injured reserve
· Scott Walker: Knee injury, injured reserve