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Maple Leafs eye third straight win, face Hurricanes

Nov 2, 2008 - 2:00 PM Toronto (5-3-3) at Carolina (5-3-2), 5:00 pm EDT

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs have become one of the most exciting teams in the NHL, even if their record might not suggest it.

Thanks to a string of impressive offensive efforts, the Maple Leafs will look to extend their winning streak to three on Sunday when they face the Carolina Hurricanes in the first game of a home-and-home series.

After scoring 11 goals in its first six games, Toronto recorded 20 in its last five contests, posting a 4-1-0 record in the process. The Maple Leafs' latest scoring parade came on Saturday when they erased a two-goal deficit and zapped the New York Rangers, 5-2, at the Air Canada Center.

Rookie John Mitchell netted his first and second NHL career tallies to highlight a five-goal rally in the third period as Toronto won for the fourth time in its last five after starting the season 1-2-3.

Starting his fifth consecutive contest, Vesa Toskala made 18 saves for the Maple Leafs.

The Hurricanes, however, have lost three of their last five and scoring woes have been the reason why. Following a 3-1-1 start, the team has registered only four goals in its past three games and nine in its last five.

A first-period tally by Ray Whitney was all Carolina could muster in its 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Cam Ward made 29 saves in his fourth straight start and may be rested in favor of Michael Leighton in this one.