Maple Leafs 2 - 3 Hurricanes
Final
  for this game

Skinner, Hurricanes hold off Maple Leafs

Nov 21, 2011 - 1:59 AM Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Jeff Skinner netted the game-winner with just under seven minutes left in regulation, as Carolina fended off a late charge and edged Toronto, 3-2, at RBC Center.

Jay Harrison and Jussi Jokinen also tallied for the Hurricanes, who momentarily snapped out of their funk and won for just the third time in their last 10 games.

Cam Ward stopped 23 shots for the victory.

"Last time out we played a good game. In this one we came out with the same lines and we did a good job of getting pucks out and into the offensive zone," Skinner said. "There's always pressure, especially to win, but you put the most pressure on yourself. It's not fun when you lose, but it's important to go out there and have fun."

Phil Kessel recorded both goals for the Maple Leafs, who couldn't sustain the momentum from a 7-1 rout of Washington on Saturday and lost for the fourth time in five.

Ben Scrivens took the loss despite stopping 38 shots.

Skinner's winner began in the Carolina defensive zone, where forechecking pressure forced the puck away from Toronto forward Nikolai Kulemin. Bryan Allen flicked the puck ahead to Eric Staal, and he roared in alone. Scrivens made the initial stop but Skinner, who followed behind the play, pushed it home with 6:52 remaining.

Kessel netted his second of the night with 60 seconds left, on a wrister from the right circle as the Leafs went with an extra attacker. Scrivens remained on the bench, and despite feverish action around Ward, Carolina held on.

We need to take small steps," said Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice. "I didn't think we were going to go from the Montreal game up into the stratosphere. We needed to play a good, solid game tonight, given the quick turnaround (on Monday in Philadelphia).

Harrison potted the game's first goal on a shot from the bottom of the left circle with 29 seconds to play in the first.

Jokinen added a power-play tally at 7:05 of the second, but Kessel struck with 4:31 gone in the third on the advantage to get Toronto back within a goal.

Game Notes

Carolina has won 10 of its last 14 matchups with Toronto...Kessel posted his third multi-goal effort this season and first since a two-goal performance on October 15 against Calgary...Kessel remained atop the goal-scoring list thus far, with his 16 tallies now four ahead of Pittsburgh's James Neal and Milan Michalek of Ottawa.






Related News