McElhinney, Leafs blank Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Goalie Curtis McElhinney secured his first shutout as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 4-0 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday night at PNC Arena.
McElhinney, who joined the Maple Leafs last month when he was claimed off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets, made 37 saves in his sixth appearance with Toronto. His record is 3-3 with his new team.
Connor Brown scored twice, while Auston Matthews and Jake Gardner also found the net for Toronto, which won for just the second time in six games.
Carolina goalie Cam Ward stopped 20 of 24 shots before he was replaced by Eddie Lack for the final 11-plus minutes.
The Hurricanes are winless in their last four games (0-3-1). They scored a total of three goals in those games.
McElhinney posted his fifth career shutout, stopping 15 shots in the first period and 16 in the second period.
Carolina held a 31-20 edge in shots through two periods, but Toronto was ahead 2-0.
Brown scored just 67 seconds into the second period, taking a pass from left winger James Van Riemsdyk and never altering his stride while delivering the puck past Ward. It was Brown's 13th goal of the season, but his first in eight games.
Nine minutes later, Matthews converted for his team-high 28th goal of the season. The 19-year-old has five goals in an eight-game span.
Gardner scored with 13:50 remaining in the third period, with his shot from the left point making it through a screen.
Less than two minutes later, Brown was in business again by tipping in Van Riemsdyk's pass in what was a similar-looking sequence to the game's first goal.
Carolina lost for the first time in seven games this season wearing its alternate home black jerseys.
NOTES: The Hurricanes recalled F Phil Di Giuseppe from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL after losing F Ty Rattie, who was reclaimed by the St. Louis Blues on waivers. Rattie had two assists in five games with the Hurricanes since joining the organization on Jan. 4. ... Toronto C Mitchell Marner, who shared the team lead with 48 points, missed his second game in a row with an upper-body injury after playing in the team's first 56 games. ... The Maple Leafs are home for their next three games, beginning Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets. ... The Hurricanes play the middle game of their five-game homestand Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.