Toronto (5-3-3) at Carolina (5-3-2), 5:00 pm EDT
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs have
become one of the most exciting teams in the NHL, even if their
record might not suggest it.
Thanks to a string of impressive offensive efforts, the Maple
Leafs will look to extend their winning streak to three on
Sunday when they face the Carolina Hurricanes in the first game
of a home-and-home series.
After scoring 11 goals in its first six games, Toronto recorded
20 in its last five contests, posting a 4-1-0 record in the
process. The Maple Leafs' latest scoring parade came on
Saturday when they erased a two-goal deficit and zapped the New
York Rangers, 5-2, at the Air Canada Center.
Rookie John Mitchell netted his first and second NHL career
tallies to highlight a five-goal rally in the third period as
Toronto won for the fourth time in its last five after starting
the season 1-2-3.
Starting his fifth consecutive contest, Vesa Toskala made 18
saves for the Maple Leafs.
The Hurricanes, however, have lost three of their last five and
scoring woes have been the reason why. Following a 3-1-1 start,
the team has registered only four goals in its past three games
and nine in its last five.
A first-period tally by Ray Whitney was all Carolina could
muster in its 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Cam
Ward made 29 saves in his fourth straight start and may be
rested in favor of Michael Leighton in this one.