TORONTO – Jake Guentzel assisted on two goals and scored the only goal in the shootout as the Carolina Hurricanes came from behind to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 on Saturday after trailing 4-2 in the third period.
Sebastian Aho contributed two goals and an assist, Jordan Martinook and Seth Jarvis each scored a goal in regular play for Carolina (41-20-6). Pyotr Kochetkov blocked 36 shots.
John Tavares, with an assist and a goal, William Nylander, Nick Robertson, and David Kampf scored for Toronto (38-19-9). Ilya Samsonov saved 36 shots. Morgan Rielly had two assists.
Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns, who also provided two assists, played his 1,400th regular-season game. The 39-year-old is the 42nd player in NHL history to reach this milestone.
The Leafs played without Mitch Marner (high ankle sprain) and forward Calle Jarnkrok (hand injury). The Hurricanes played without winger Teuvo Teravainen (upper-body injury).
When Carolina was down 4-2 near the end of the third period, Aho scored a power-play goal, his 26th, with Kochetkov off the ice for an extra attacker with 92 seconds left in regulation.
Aho then equalized with 5.8 seconds remaining with the team playing 6-on-5 to force overtime.
The teams had opportunities in the extra period, including a Toronto power play, but couldn’t determine the winner after 65 minutes.
Guentzel then secured the win in the third round of the shootout with a shot through Samsonov’s pads.
Carolina, which lost in last year’s Eastern Conference final to the Florida Panthers, made some significant moves before last week’s trade deadline, adding Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, while Toronto opted for some depth additions.
Wearing their white and green St. Patrick’s jerseys, the Leafs scored first at 4:47 of the second period when Tavares shot the puck under the crossbar on a breakaway for his 21st goal of the season.
Nylander extended the lead at 6:27 with his 36th goal on another breakaway before Robertson — in the lineup for the first time since Feb. 29 — received a pass from Tavares in close and scored his ninth goal for a 3-0 lead.
Martinook got his team's first goal when he scored his 12th on a rebound at 13:27.
Jarvis added another with 2.7 seconds left on the clock when he scored his 22nd for a 3-2 deficit after 40 minutes.
Toronto defenseman Joel Edmundson cleared the puck out of his crease and Carolina defenseman Jalen Chatfield hit the post early in the third before Kampf made it 4-2 on another breakaway when he scored his sixth goal through Kochetkov’s five-hole at 2:55.
Samsonov had fans chanting his name later in the period after making a remarkable glove stop on Jesper Fast while the Hurricanes pushed back through Aho.
Samsonov appeared to be in discomfort during Saturday’s morning skate, but Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe assured everyone that “Sammy’s fine. He’ll play tonight. Leave me alone.” during his pre-game media availability.
FREDDIE’S BACK
One of three goalkeepers on Carolina’s roster, former Toronto netminder Frederik Andersen returned to play last week after recovering from a blood-clotting issue that kept him out since November.
The 34-year-old won his first three starts back, including Thursday’s 21-save shutout of Florida, but didn’t dress Saturday.
Andersen said he was in really good hands during his time away, just getting to a point where he was really comfortable.
MARNER ON THE MEND
Marner missed a third straight game, but has resumed skating. Jarnkrok got hurt in Thursday’s 6-2 victory in Philadelphia and is considered week-to-week.
FLAPPING WINGS
Acquired from Washington after spending a chunk of the season in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program before passing through waivers, Kuznetsov broke out his familiar celebration — known as the “The Bird” — after scoring his first Carolina goal Thursday.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour joked in the locker room post-game he wasn’t a fan of the 31-year-old’s arm flapping until this week.
“I’m pretty sure it bothers a lot of people,” Kuznetsov said with a laugh Saturday. “I don’t try to make people angry … it’s just for kids and people that have been asking me.”
UP NEXT
Carolina: Visits the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
Toronto: Heads back to Philadelphia on Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2024.
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