toronto @ carolina

[Aces High]

Toronto Maple Leafs (25-20-4-1) at Carolina Hurricanes (17-23-6-5), 7:30 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Toronto Maple Leafs try to put the brakes on a three- game losing streak tonight when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center in a rematch of last spring's Eastern Conference finals.

Carolina, of course, disposed of Toronto in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Martin Gelinas, now with the Calgary Flames, scored the series-clincher in overtime of the sixth match up at Air Canada Centre.

Entering tonight's contest, the Maple Leafs have fallen to Philadelphia, Buffalo and Colorado on the heels of a three-game winning streak. The slide includes consecutive shutouts at the hands of Buffalo (4-0) and Colorado (3-0).

On Saturday against the Avalanche, Patrick Roy stymied the Leafs with 20 saves -- 15 in the final 40 minutes. In all, Toronto has not found the net in 139 minutes, 6 seconds of consecutive action. Alexander Mogilny last scored, 54 seconds into the third period of a 3-1 loss to the Flyers on January 21.

The Leafs, whose coach, Pat Quinn, will celebrate his 60th birthday today, are 9-11-2-1 on the road this season. They'll visit the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday to lead into the All-Star break.

And speaking of the All-Star break, for the first time since the league began holding a regular All-Star Game in 1947 there will not be a Toronto Maple Leafs player in the game. Ed Belfour will sit out the tilt due to his sore back, while Mats Sundin was pulled to rest his shoulder that he injured last month.

Carolina, meanwhile, snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 3-1 home win over Florida on Friday, but got right back to losing the following night at the Panthers. The Canes dropped a 3-2 overtime decision in Sunrise and fell to 1-7-1-2 in the last 11 games.

Jeff Heerema and Ron Francis scored for Carolina, Francis forcing overtime 8:37 into the third period. However, the Panthers' Stephen Weiss beat Arturs Irbe through the legs at 3:40 of the extra session. Irbe finished with 19 stops in defeat.

The Hurricanes, with 45 points, continue to inch closer to the Southeast Division cellar. They are fourth in the standings and sit 11 off the first- place pace of Washington, and only four ahead of last-place Atlanta.

Carolina, which has lost seven of its last eight on home ice, will visit Tampa Bay on Thursday. The Hurricanes are 1-8-1 on Wednesdays this season.

These teams split four meetings last season and are 4-4-1 in the last nine clashes.

 

[Aces High]

The last time the Carolina Hurricanes faced the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Southeast Division upstarts were headed to the Stanley Cup finals. Things aren't going nearly as well for Carolina now.

Seeking just their second win in 12 games, the Hurricanes try to hand the Maple Leafs a season-high fourth straight loss when the clubs meet at the RBC Center.

After beating New Jersey and Montreal in the first two rounds of last season's playoffs, the Hurricanes needed six games, including three overtime wins, to eliminate Toronto in the conference finals and advance to their first cup finals.

Carolina challenged for first place in the mediocre Southeast during the first three months of this season, but a 2-11-1-2 skid has dropped it into 13th place in the conference.

The Hurricanes did play better over the weekend in a home-and-home series with the Florida Panthers, posting a 3-1 home victory Friday followed by a 3-2 loss in overtime Saturday.

Rookie Jeff Heerema and Ron Francis scored in the series finale for Carolina, loser of seven straight at home before Friday's win.

``Coming into the series we knew we had to play better,'' Francis said. ``We did last night, but you win one, of course, you want to win them both. It's disappointing we didn't get the two, but certainly the effort was there.''

Generating offense continues to be a major problem for the Hurricanes, as they have scored three goals or fewer in 11 straight games. Only Buffalo, with 108, has scored fewer goals in the East.

Although Toronto is in much better position than Carolina, the Maple Leafs also are struggling, particularly offensively.

They tied a season high with their third straight loss Saturday, 3-0 to the Colorado Avalanche. Toronto was shut out for the second consecutive game.

``We have one goal in the last three games. That it makes it very tough on the goalies,'' Alyn McCauley said. ``We have to generate more offense, but at the same time I think defense is the bigger issue. We gave up a lot of opportunities.''

Playing without leading scorer Alexander Mogilny the past two games hasn't helped Toronto's offense or its power play, scoreless in its last 30 opportunities.

Mogilny, nursing a sore back, is not expected to play Wednesday.

``I'm looking forward to going on this trip, but there is no guarantee I'll be back before the All-Star break,'' Mogilny said.

STANDINGS (through Jan. 27): Maple Leafs - 55 points, 3rd place, 16 PB, Northeast Division. Hurricanes - 45 points, 4th place, 11 PB, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Maple Leafs - Mogilny, 21 goals, 29 assists and 50 points; Tie Domi, 99 PIM. Hurricanes - Jeff O'Neill, 19 goals and 39 points; Rod Brind'Amour, 23 assists; Sean Hill, 99 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Jan. 27): Maple Leafs - Power play: 17.7 percent (40 for 226), 13th in NHL. Penalty killing: 87.3 percent (219 for 251), 2nd. Hurricanes - Power play: 16.0 percent (45 for 282), 15th. Penalty killing: 83.5 percent (223 for 267), 14th.

GOALTENDERS: Maple Leafs - Ed Belfour (21-14-3, 5 SO, 2.15 GAA); Trevor Kidd (3-6-1, 3.44). Hurricanes - Kevin Weekes (10-13-4, 2, 2.39); Arturs Irbe (7-15-2, 2.93).

2001-02 SEASON SERIES: 2-2-0.

LAST MEETING: May 28; Hurricanes 2-1, OT. At Toronto, Martin Gelinas scored 8:05 into the extra period in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals as Carolina advanced to face the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS:

Maple Leafs - 9-11-2-1 on the road

Hurricanes - 9-10-5-3 at home.

 

[Aces High]

injuries

injuries

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS - *Goaltender Trevor Kidd (groin) is questionable for Wednesday's game against Carolina. *Right wing Alexander Mogilny (back) is probable for Wednesday's game. Left wing Gary Roberts (shoulder surgery) is expected to be sidelined until mid-February.

CAROLINA HURRICANES - *Defenseman Glen Wesley (groin) is questionable for Wednesday's game against Toronto. Center Rod Brind'Amour (hand surgery) is expected to miss at least the remainder of the regular season.

 

[Aces High]

Toronto Maple Leafs (25-20-4-1) at Carolina Hurricanes (17-23-6-5)

Records
2002-03 Head-to-head record First meeting
2001-02 Head-to-head record Tied 2-2 (1-1 at Tor; 1-1 at Car)
2000-01 Head-to-head record Toronto 2-1 (1-0 at Tor; 1-1 at Car)
1999-00 Head-to-head-record Tied 1-1-2 (Tor 0-1-1 at Home; 1-0-1 at Car)
Home Record Toronto 16-9-2-0; Carolina 9-10-5-3
Away Record Toronto 9-11-2-1; Carolina 8-13-1-2
Record vs. Southeast Division Toronto 6-2-2-0
Record vs. Northeast Division Carolina 3-4-2-0
Record vs. Eastern Conference Toronto 19-16-3-0; Carolina 11-19-5-3

2001-2002 Meetings
10/11 - Toronto, 3-2 (at Car)
11/27 - Carolina, 5-2 (at Tor)
12/26 - Carolina, 4-3 (at Car)
02/26 - Toronto, 4-1 (at Tor)

2000-2001 Meetings
11/08 - Toronto, 5-0 (at Tor)
11/10 - Carolina, 3-1 (at Car)
01/31 - Toronto, 4-3 (at Car)

Game Notes
Note - Tor snapped a 2-game series losing streak on 02/26/02.
Note - Toronto has won 3 of 5 and 4 of the last seven meetings.
Note - These two teams are 4-4-1 in the last nine meetings.
Note - Toronto is 7-6-3 in the last 16 meetings.
Note - Carolina is 10-7-5 in the last 22 meetings.
Note - Car snapped a 2-game series home losing streak on 12/26/01.
Note - Toronto is 4-2-1 in its last seven at Carolina.
Note - Toronto is 4-6-2 in the last 12 road meetings.
Note - Carolina has lost two of its last three at Toronto.
Note - Carolina is 3-2-2 in its last seven at Toronto.
Note - These two teams are 5-5-3 in the last 13 meetings at Tor
Note - Toronto has lost 3 straight after winning its last 3 games.
Note - Carolina is 1-7-1-2 in its last 11 games.
Note - Carolina has lost seven of its last eight home games.
Note - Carolina is 1-8-1 in Wednesday games this season.

 

[donly1ace]

Aces, WHERE DO YOU GET THESE STATS?

 

[Aces High]

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs, who again may be without goaltender Ed Belfour, try to end their scoring drought when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.

Belfour has been bothered by back spasms and on Monday announced he will not participate in Sunday's All-Star Game. He was in the nets Saturday and had 17 saves in a 3-0 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The shutout was the 63rd of Patrick Roy's career, tying him with Belfour for the most among active goalies.

Jonas Hoglund had four of Toronto's 20 shots on goal Saturday, when the Maple Leafs were blanked in consecutive games for the first time since 1991. The Leafs have lost their last three games following a three-game winning streak and right wing Alexander Mogilny has missed the last two contests with a back injury.

Carolina avoided matching a franchise-record nine-game losing streak Friday, when Josef Vasicek recorded a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers.

The Hurricanes failed to make it two wins in a row as they were defeated, 3-2, in overtime at Florida on Saturday. Carolina had a 41-22 edge in shots but fell to 1-8-1-1 in its last 11 games.

The Hurricanes and Leafs are meeting for the first time since Carolina won in six games of the Eastern Conference final last May. The teams split four meetings in the regular season, including two games here.