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Sports

Maple Leafs visit struggling Hurricanes

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

The Carolina Hurricanes will try to end a lengthy scoring game losing streak when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at RBC Center.

The Hurricanes have lost three in a row and seven of their last eight games to fall to 6-11-3 on the season. Carolina, which is ahead of only the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings, has also been shut out in each of its last two trips to the ice.

Carolina was dealt a 4-0 loss Wednesday in Montreal before dropping a 1-0 decision to visiting Buffalo on Friday. All told, the Hurricanes have gone 95 minutes, 24 seconds since Patrick Dwyer scored the club's last goal Monday in a 5-3 home loss to Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, Toronto was able to halt a three-game skid with a rout of visiting Washington on Saturday. The 7-1 victory over the Capitals was just the second win in seven games (2-4-1) for the Leafs.

The 'Canes fired 34 shots at Jhonas Enroth on Friday, but the game's only goal was scored in the first period by Buffalo's Jason Pominville. Brian Boucher made 19 saves for the Hurricanes and the club's backup goaltender had some positive things to say about Carolina's 11th setback in 14 games.

"This was a really good effort tonight. This is something to build off of," Boucher said. "If we play like that, I think we're going to win more games than we lose."

Cam Ward is expected to be back between the pipes tonight for Carolina. Ward is 9-8-1 with a 3.14 goals-against average in 18 career games against the Maple Leafs.

The Hurricanes have lost four of their last five home games and are just 4-5-1 in Raleigh this season.

Seven different players recorded a goal as the Maple Leafs ran away with the blowout win over Washington. Tim Connolly, Matt Frattin, Tyler Bozak, Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, Cody Franson and David Steckel all lit the lamp for Toronto.

"We felt we've been close to something like this for the past couple of games," said Lupul. "Penalty kill was good, power play was good, everyone contributed. A good night all around."

Jonas Gustavsson made 40 saves as the Maple Leafs put a halt to a three-game slide. Ben Scrivens is expected to get the start in net tonight rather than have Gustavsson play on consecutive days.

Toronto is still without No. 1 goaltender James Reimer, who suffered a concussion and whiplash against Montreal on Oct. 22 and has been out ever since.

Leafs forward Clarke MacArthur is expected to miss a third straight game tonight with an upper body ailment.

This evening's tilt marks the start of a four-game road trip for Toronto, which is 5-4-0 as the guest this season. The Leafs will also visit Tampa Bay, Dallas and Anaheim during this swing.

The Leafs and 'Canes split four meetings last season, but Carolina has taken six of the last nine encounters in this series. However, Toronto does have three wins in its last five trips to North Carolina.