Hurricanes defeat Maple Leafs for fifth straight victory
TORONTO -- Viktor Stalberg scored a short-handed goal in the second period to break a tie and the Carolina Hurricanes went on to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to five games.
Jeff Skinner also scored for the Hurricanes (8-6-4), who won the first four games of their streak at home.
Jake Gardiner scored for the Maple Leafs (8-8-3), who have lost two in a row.
Cam Ward stopped 25 shots in the Hurricanes goal.
Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen made 27 stops in his 10th straight start.
The Maple Leafs went on the power play at 14:21 of the third period after Jay McClement was given a tripping penalty. The Hurricanes were able to kill off the penalty.
Toronto seldom threatened after that.
Gardiner's slap shot from the left point found its way through a maze of players for his fourth goal of the season that gave Toronto a 1-0 lead at 5:55 of the first period.
The Maple Leafs scored the first goal in each of their past four home games.
The Hurricanes tied the game on a power-play goal by Skinner at 17:21 of the first period with Toronto defenseman Connor Carrick serving a holding penalty. Skinner's seventh goal of the season came after a jamming session around the Maple Leafs' net. Derek Ryan and Lee Stempniak picked assists.
The Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead at 14:06 of the second period on a short-handed goal by Stalberg on a breakaway while killing a hooking penalty to Jay McClement. Elias Lindholm earned the assist on Stalberg's third goal of the season.
NOTES: Hurricanes reserve G Eddie Lack (concussion) was put on injured reserve after being injured in practice on Monday. G Michael Leighton was recalled from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey Association to back up G Cam Ward. Leighton ranks fourth in the AHL with a 1.66 goals-against average. ... Maple Leafs LW Josh Leivo (lower body) was recalled from a long-term injury conditioning loan with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and is listed as an injured non-roster player. ... Tuesday's game is the first of three between the teams this season and the only one at Air Canada Centre. They meet again Feb. 19 and March 11 at PNC Arena. ... The Hurricanes play the second of their three-game trip at Montreal against the Canadiens on Thursday. ... The Maple Leafs visit the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.