Maple Leafs 3, Hurricanes 1
Captain Dion Phaneuf had two goals and an assist and the Toronto Maple Leafs revived their fading playoff hopes with a 3-1 win over the host Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
Phaneuf and Tyler Bozak scored 12 seconds apart midway through the second period and rookie James Reimer turned aside 36 shots as the Maple Leafs (31-30-10) pulled within four points of eighth-place Buffalo and two behind No. 9 Carolina in the Eastern Conference.
Chad LaRose scored the only goal for the Hurricanes (32-29-10), who squandered a chance to draw even with the Sabres for the final playoff slot.
Phaneuf scored the first of his two power-play tallies with 59 seconds left in the first period to tie the game at 1-1.
Toronto went ahead for good when Phaneuf drilled a shot past Cam Ward (16 saves) at 10:51 of the second period.
Bozak added to the lead 12 seconds later, redirecting a centering pass from Darryl Boyce by Ward.