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Hurricanes clip Maple Leafs on Brind'Amour's OT tally

Feb 1, 2008 - 5:39 AM RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs got a big goal from their captain. The Carolina Hurricanes also got a goal from their leader, and it was even bigger.

Mats Sundin tied the game with 11 seconds left in the third period, but Rod Brind'Amour scored at 3:20 of overtime as the Hurricanes edged the Maple Leafs, 3- 2, on Thursday.

Scott Walker and defenseman Tim Gleason each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who won for the fourth time in five games and remained atop the Southeast Division standings. Carolina leads Washington by three points, with Atlanta four back.

"We knew where we were at when we came back (after the All-Star break)," Walker said. "There are two roads you can go down when there are 30 games left. I think we came back with the right mind set."

The Hurricanes came up empty on four power-play chances in regulation but took advantage of their fifth opportunity to post the win.

Toronto center Nik Antropov was called for hooking with 2:26 to play in overtime. Less than a minute later, Brind'Amour converted a feed from Ray Whitney for his 19th goal of the season.

Cory Stillman kept the puck in the offensive zone and sent a cross-ice pass to Whitney at the top of the left faceoff circle. Whitney took the puck to the net before dishing to Brind'Amour, who beat goaltender Vesa Toskala with a low shot from the slot.

"We got a lucky break that we got a power play, and their guy didn't clear the puck and it ends up in their net," Brind'Amour said. "I don't care how we get our two points."

It was about the only goal of the game that was not reviewed. And neither side was too happy about the number of reviews.

"It takes the flow out of the game," Brind'Amour said.

Toronto coach Paul Maurice was more upset that the calls were upheld.

"(Walker's) was a high-stick goal. (Jason) Blake's puck was in the net. Gleason found the crease and it was a lousy call," Maurice said. "But that's my judgment. That's the way I feel. That's the way our hockey players feel. That's what the camera looked like to me."

Sundin tied the game late in the third when the puck went in off his skate.

Darcy Tucker gained control along the boards and fired a pass toward the net that Sundin directed in. Video replay officials ruled Sundin turned his skate but did not kick the puck, tying the game at 2-2.

The Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead at 3:29 of the third, when Walker deflected a slap shot from the slot by Gleason past Toskala. Walker had become entangled with the netminder, who lost his stick during the scrum, before the puck worked its way back to Gleason for the blast.

"I was going to catch the puck, but they tipped it in," Toskala said. "I don't know. It's a tough call. If it was a high stick or not, I can't tell that."

Toronto, looking to break a three-game skid, struck first early in the first period on a goal by rookie Jiri Tlusty at 3:20. The trailer on an odd-man rush, Tlusty took a pass from Sundin in the slot before blasting the puck by netminder Cam Ward, who finished with 24 saves.

Carolina came back to tie it at 13:19 of the second period, when Gleason's slap shot from the right point made its way through traffic and past Toskala. Gleason's shot bounced off Toronto defenseman Ian White, who was jostling with Brind'Amour in the slot, before it got by the Finnish goalie.

"Gleason had some nice shots," Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said. "We were trying to find the net, trying to hammer down the walls, keep pucks in and get them to our forward cycles. I know we caught some chances."

The Hurricanes won three of four meetings between the teams this season.