One of the weakest Leaf performances of the season didn't end up looking so bad in terms of scoring chances, thanks to score effects, but the complete lack of organization in the defensive zone was an embarrassing performance that, for the first time, has started to bring some real media heat onto Randy Carlyle.
The Leafs had a very bad start, looking all at sea on a couple of Carolina goals in the first period, outchanced 6-2 at ES and 10-2 overall in the first 10 minutes, in addition to trailing by two. Some good play later in the period saw Lupul restore a little hope, but Carolina pulled ahead again when Dwyer added a third.
After a bonanza of chances in the first, the second was much more conservative, with Liles' early goal allowing Carolina to sit back quite a bit more. Staal's shorthanded goal in the early of the third, extending the lead to four, only empahsized this point; the Leafs won the period in terms of ES chances, but it didn't really matter, as Carolina were content to hold onto their lead and Khudobin was solid in goal.
Carolina won narrowly at even strength, but had a much larger victory overall, as they had a lot of power play time and did well in generating chances with the extra man.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Carolina |
Toronto |
Carolina |
| 1 |
5 |
14 |
5 |
10 |
| 2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| 3 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
| Total |
13 |
23 |
12 |
13 |
Details below.
In the last game before the halfway point, the Leafs managed to get some actual luck going their way, getting badly out-shot and out-chanced, but managing a rare regulation win, their first since beating Chicago a couple of weeks ago.
Phil Kessel gave the Leafs the lead on a bad goal late in the first, after Toronto had been clearly outchanced in the period. Carolina got level early in the second, as they dominated in the opening part of the period, outchancing Toronto 8-1 in the first thirteen minutes. Things then swung against the 'Canes, Kessel getting a second on a deflected pass, and Kulemin firing home the third goal. A Carolina response late in the second left them chasing a one-goal deficit in the third period.
A Paul Ranger goal midway through the period left Carolina to overhaul a two goal advantage, and while they generated a number of chances, they couldn't get it. Toronto were able to hold the Hurricanes chanceless in the last five minutes, and an empty net goal salted the game away.
One of the Leafs worst games in terms of chances, but getting those lucky breaks to take the lead meant that Carolina was chasing for much of it. Managing to keep the second period even on the scoreboard, despite how badly they were outchanced, was a key to their victory.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Carolina |
Toronto |
Carolina |
| 1 |
5 |
7 |
3 |
7 |
| 2 |
6 |
11 |
4 |
11 |
| 3 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
| 4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Total |
15 |
25 |
11 |
25 |
Details below.
For a second straight game, the Leafs were soundly outplayed and outchanced, but this time they weren't able to get away with a point. Of course, this being the Leafs, it didn't come without something strange, Bernier allowing an extremely strange winning goal off an icing call.
The first period started well, Toronto winning the chance battle narrowly. Things stated to fall apart in the second, though, with Carolina pulling away to a big chance advantage, Toronto generating only two in the period. Of course, this wasn't reflected on the scoreboard, as the Leafs ended the period with a two-goal lead.
Toronto played a better third period, despite the score, as the teams traded early chances, allowing a goal on the powerplay that wasn't a chance, before Eric Staal put in a loose puck to tie the game, the only goal of Carolina's that came from a scoring chance.
The bizzare third goal by Carolina ended up in a result they probably deserved, but in an extremely strange way. Bernier took his attention off a long shot that seemed like it might go for icing, which then bounced off the boards and past him on the short side.
The two teams were even in the first and third period, but Toronto's miserable second (the period in which they scored both their goals), left that at a big deficit. The Leafs generated only one chance in the period other than the two goals.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Carolina |
Toronto |
Carolina |
| 1 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
| 2 |
3 |
10 |
2 |
9 |
| 3 |
5 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
| Total |
13 |
23 |
11 |
18 |
Follow below the fold for details.
