Maple Leafs 3 - 1 Hurricanes
Final
  for this game

Reimer, Leafs handle 'Canes

Mar 17, 2011 - 3:37 AM Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - James Reimer stopped 36 shots to help the Toronto Maples Leafs take a 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center.

Dion Phaneuf had two goals and an assist while Tyler Bozak scored the other goal for the Maple Leafs, who had dropped four of five coming into the contest.

"All year long I've been saying 'sometimes they go and sometimes they don't'," said Phaneuf. "It was nice to get a couple in tonight and help the team take a big two points."

Chad LaRose scored the lone goal and Cam Ward was tagged for three goals on 19 shots for the Hurricanes, who have now lost five of their last six games.

"We're offensively frustrated out there right now," said Carolina head coach Paul Maurice. "We have a bunch of chances at the net, but the pucks are sitting around that crease and we just can't get them in."

The win moved Toronto into 10th place in the Eastern Conference and four points back of Buffalo for the final playoff spot. Meanwhile, Carolina stayed in ninth place and is two points behind Buffalo.

Carolina got the initial lead on the power play when a wrister from Brandon Sutter in the high slot was tipped in by LaRose in front at the 12:24 mark of the first.

However, Toronto tied the game on the power play with 58.9 seconds to play as Phaneuf's one-timer from the high slot went over Ward.

Skating on the power play in the second, Phaneuf scored his second goal of the game and seventh of the season on a blast from the top of the right circle that sailed over Ward's glove with 9:09 to play.

Just 12 seconds later, Toronto took a 3-1 lead as Darryl Boyce skated the puck into the zone down the left wing and threw it to the front where Bozak redirected it in.

Reimer made 10 stops in the second period, including several on a late Carolina power play, to help the Maple Leafs take a two-goal lead into the third.

Toronto killed an early Carolina power play in the third while Reimer turned aside 15 shots in the frame.

Game Notes

Toronto plays in Florida on Thursday...The Hurricanes host the Islanders on Friday...Each team won twice in the season series...Toronto went 2-for-3 on the power play while Carolina was 1-for-5.






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