Hurricanes 1, Maple Leafs 0 (OT)
TORONTO -- Center Jordan Staal scored in overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Toronto Maple Leaf 1-0 on Thursday.
Staal knocked in a rebound at 2:54 of overtime for his 11th goal of the season as the Hurricanes (21-19-8) rebounded from a 5-0 loss on Monday to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It was the sixth loss in the past seven games for the Maple Leafs (17-20-8), who defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday.
Toronto goaltender James Reimer made 40 saves while defensemen Justin Faulk and Brett Pesce assisted on Staal's winner.
Carolina goaltender Eddie Lack stopped 31 shots to earn his first shutout of the season and the seventh of his career.
The Hurricanes had the early advantage in the goalless first period, taking the play to the Maple Leafs with Reimer rising to the occasion. Toronto came back to outshoot Carolina 12-10 in the period. Toronto had a 2-1 advantage in power plays.
The Maple Leafs carried the play in the first part of the second period that also did not have a goal.
The Hurricanes picked up their game in the second half of the period but failed to take advantage of a power play when Toronto center Nazem Kadri took a holding penalty at 13:54. The Maple Leafs came closest to scoring on the power play when right winger Michael Grabner was foiled on a breakaway with Lack making a glove save.
The Hurricanes failed to score on their second power play of the period when Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf took a delay-of-game penalty. The shots on goal were 12-12 in the period.
The Hurricanes pressed the issue in the third period and went on the power play at 14:01 when Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak took a penalty for tripping. The best the Hurricanes could do was hit a goal post on a shot from the left faceoff circle by center Victor Rask.
Carolina controlled the puck in the Toronto end during the final minute but could not find the goal to prevent overtime.
NOTES: Hurricanes G Cam Ward (concussion) was put on injured reserve Wednesday and is out indefinitely. G Eddie Lack will take over as Carolina's No. 1 goaltender. G Daniel Altshuller was recalled from Charlotte of the AHL. ... Former Maple Leafs greats Dave Keon, Turk Broda and Tim Horton will have statues unveiled in October when they are added to the team's Legends Row. ... Toronto RW Brad Boyes played his 800th NHL game on Thursday. ... The Leafs beat the Hurricanes 2-1 in a shootout on Nov. 20 at Carolina in the first meeting between the teams. ... The Maple Leafs play their next game on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens at Air Canada Centre. The Hurricanes return home to play the New York Rangers on Friday.