Toronto (1-7-5) at Carolina (2-9-3)

  • Game info: 7:00 pm EST Fri Nov 6, 2009
  • TV: LTV, FSCR

By ALAN FERGUSON, STATS Writer Nov 5, 3:56 pm EST

Preview | Box Score | Recap | Highlights
  • Print

The Carolina Hurricanes have averaged the fewest goals in the NHL while the Toronto Maple Leafs have allowed the most per game.

It’s no surprise, then, that the clubs are among the worst in the league as they meet at RBC Center on Friday night.

A season after reaching the Eastern Conference finals, the Hurricanes (2-9-3) are off to the worst start in franchise history and have gone 0-7-3 in their last 10.

Carolina was shut out for the third time this season Wednesday night, 3-0 by Florida. The Hurricanes outshot the Panthers 32-25 but failed to convert on five power-play chances, extending their season-high drought to 13.

The Hurricanes also played without Eric Staal(notes), their leading goal scorer in the past two seasons, for the first time in 349 games.

Staal, who had the league’s second-longest active such streak, suffered an upper-body injury in a 5-1 loss to San Jose on Sunday and is expected to miss at least two weeks.

The center has just three goals and two assists in 13 games for the Hurricanes, who have scored a league-worst 1.93 goals per contest.

They could have trouble improving that average Friday with leading goal scorer Ray Whitney(notes) and Tuomo Ruutu(notes) expected to sit out with injuries.

“I’ve seen enough to where I’m as disappointed as I’ve ever been in a team,” general manager Jim Rutherford told the team’s official Web site. “I still know that there’s enough here to make that turn, but when you watch what we’ve all watched here in the last week, it makes you wonder if it’s going to turn.”

The Maple Leafs brought in Brian Burke as their GM nearly a year ago to help turn around a franchise that has missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons.

Toronto (1-7-5) does not look poised to end that drought as it has struggled again defensively. The Maple Leafs allowed a league-worst 3.49 goals per game in 2008-09 and are at the bottom of the league again this season, giving up 3.92 a contest.

Toronto, however, has earned at least a point in five straight games since its only win Oct. 26. The Maple Leafs lost their fourth straight Tuesday night - all beyond regulation - 2-1 in overtime to Tampa Bay.

Ian White(notes) got the tying goal early in the third period, but Ryan Malone(notes) scored 2:21 into the extra session.

“We have to persevere, we can’t change what we’re doing because we’re right there knocking on the door,” coach Ron Wilson said. “We’ve just got to find a way to knock the door completely down.”

Carolina is second worst in the NHL with 3.64 goals allowed per game, while Toronto is among the league’s lowest-scoring teams at 2.38 goals per contest.

The Hurricanes won six of the last eight meetings with the Leafs, though Toronto snapped Carolina’s three-game home win streak in the series with a 6-4 victory Jan. 15.

Updated Nov 5, 3:56 pm EST
digg del.icio.us
more

Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Toronto 24 6 11 7 19 5th, Northeast 67 89 4-5-4 Road
Carolina 26 5 16 5 15 5th, Southeast 60 97 5-6-2 Home

Notes

C Boyd Devereaux matched his goal output from the rest of the season in the Maple Leafs' final game of the season, notching his second career hat trick. It was the first three-goal effort in more than nine years for the Devereaux, who recorded the first during his rookie season on March 17, 2000. ... With neither the Maple Leafs or Senators qualifying for the postseason, the playoffs will be without a team from Ontario for the first time since 1991-92. ... With LW Niklas Hagman tallying twice on Saturday, the Maple Leafs ended up with five players with 20 or more goals.

Apr 11, 11:28 pm EDT

The Hurricanes rallied for two goals in the final 80 seconds of the third period to eliminate the Devils. The victory marked the first time in the series a team won consecutive games. ... Five of the seven games were decided by one goal, including two that needed overtime. ... D Tim Gleason was the lone Hurricane not to register a shot on goal. ... C Eric Staal scored the game-winning goal with 31.7 seconds remaining, his team-leading fifth tally of the series. ... The line of Staal (five goals, two assists), LW Ray Whitney (three goals, four assists) and RW Chad LaRose (two goals, five assists) combined for 21 points.

Apr 28, 11:50 pm EDT
NHL

34 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. BigBadBruins
    34. Posted by BigBadBruins Sat Nov 7 12:33pm EST

    Report Abuse

    one suckey team beats another suckey team wow
  2. FavreRules
    33. Posted by FavreRules Sat Nov 7 10:38am EST

    Report Abuse

    trailmix - I don't like Blake either, but that was going WAY to far! You think that you look any better than him after a stupid comment like that? In fact, your probably the only person I hope Blake seeks out and puts a hockey skate to the face! Hopeffly the scar will remind you to watch you F'n moouth!
  3. Big Al
    32. Posted by Big Al Sat Nov 7 9:37am EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey Da Fat Man. Your laffs beat a team on the skids. Way to go!!
  4. cathypare65
    31. Posted by cathypare65 Sat Nov 7 7:54am EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey Laff Abomination @ # 18 ,They beat perhaps the lousiest team(other than themselves) in the NHL,you must be hoisting your little Laff flag up now! I hope everyone also saw on sports net, the comparison they put up on, Kessel and Samsonov.(Thats exactly, what you gave that huge future away for!) GO HAROLD BALLARD,BURKE,FERGUSON JR.!
  5. Richard L
    30. Posted by Richard L Sat Nov 7 4:34am EST

    Report Abuse

    5 straight games with at least a point. It is still an accomplishment for the Leafs. March on tonight to play the Wings. Let's see if we can get the point streak going.
  6. Nathaniel
    29. Posted by Nathaniel Sat Nov 7 2:01am EST

    Report Abuse

    well those crappy leafs finally won a game for only the second time, though the canes are just as bad
  7. Kimbo
    28. Posted by Kimbo Sat Nov 7 12:36am EST

    Report Abuse

    dennylambert!!, toshay, you have some good points.
  8. dennylambert!!
    27. Posted by dennylambert!! Sat Nov 7 12:25am EST

    Report Abuse

    staal was at a cool 5.6 shooting percentage before he went out. i wouldnt really say hes a scoring threat this year. hopefully the injury had a lot to do with it. its hard to say if they wouldve made any difference based on their previous performances.
  9. Kimbo
    26. Posted by Kimbo Sat Nov 7 12:03am EST

    Report Abuse

    dennylambert!!, actually having staal and whitney would have probably made a difference, especially in a 3-2 game. also whitney would be in 4th place on the leafs for points which is sad considering the awful year he is having and already being 15 games into the season and staal can easily make a difference in a game even if he is having a bad year he still always a scoring threat.
  10. dennylambert!!
    25. Posted by dennylambert!! Fri Nov 6 11:46pm EST

    Report Abuse

    @T, if a team being bad was the only requirement for a team moving, then teams like PITT, Chicago, and Washington would have left a couple of years ago when they all sucked and toronto would be leaving this year. despite having a crappy team, carolina's attendance is currently ranked 20th in the league beating teams like New Jersey, Colorado, and Anaheim.
  11. dennylambert!!
    24. Posted by dennylambert!! Fri Nov 6 11:39pm EST

    Report Abuse

    hah, "hurricanes were without two of their leading scorers in eric staal and ray whitney."

    staal has 5 pts in 13 games.
    whitney has 8 pts in 14 games.

    would their presence really have made any difference??
  12. Art Vandelay
    23. Posted by Art Vandelay Fri Nov 6 11:34pm EST

    Report Abuse

    None of this would have ever happened if Ponytail Peter (suck a Detroit d!ick) never moved the team to Neckcar nation. They belong in Hartford...
  13. <i>bstowex2</i>
    22. Posted by bstowex2 Fri Nov 6 11:34pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Until Carolina puts a coach in who, believes in offense, they will continue to lose big. I refuse to waste my time and hard money tor an overnight trip to see such pathetic hockey. Fire coach?? Paul!!!
  14. Art Vandelay
    21. Posted by Art Vandelay Fri Nov 6 11:33pm EST

    Report Abuse

    I would have thought the mighty, knowledgeable Leafs fans could figure out mediocrity when they see it...your team is NOTHING....going nowhere. The Canes are awful. Testing the Wings tomorrow night. ROFLMAO....I hate the Wings, but good luck in that contest. You guys are 1980's Whalers material...win a couple...lose a lot...rinse and repeat.

    Have fun sucking this season...again.
  15. T
    20. Posted by T Fri Nov 6 11:31pm EST

    Report Abuse

    This could very well be Carolina's last year as a member of the NHL.
  16. Kimbo
    19. Posted by Kimbo Fri Nov 6 11:15pm EST

    Report Abuse

    leaf nation, i'm right here. congratulations on beating the lowly hurricanes(barely). i know you guys have points in 6 straight but look where this little streak has got you guys (in second last place). look, you guys just barely beat a team that has their best players injured and now your playing an injury riddled red wings that's not even in a playoff spot right now, but hey this team is a good test for the maple leafs. You know i can make fun of the leafs and keep going on on how bad they have played but that wouldn't be fair to you not being able to make fun of my favorite team (ottawa senators). so now that i told you my favorite team, start making fun of them so that i can come up with some comebacks.
  17. 88
    18. Posted by 88 Fri Nov 6 10:51pm EST

    Report Abuse

    A Kimbo where are you now? We won! Points in our last six games. Could have won all of those games. We're on the move upwards slowly but surely. Clawing our way slowly back to respectability.
    Red Wings in Toronto tomorrow night. Good test for us to see if we can keep getting points.
    Got a major league goalie finally in Jonas Gustavsson. Optimism Leaf fans, optimism. Things are looking up. We found a way to win tonight. We must start scoring first though. That is ridiculous. It must be driving Wilson completely apoplectic.
    GO LEAFS GO!
  18. Andrew
    17. Posted by Andrew Fri Nov 6 10:46pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Gustavsson is a good goaltender he is a Monster. The team looks alot better now that Kessel is playing. Lets see how Toronto does against the Red Wings good luck you will need it.
  19. Barry
    16. Posted by Barry Fri Nov 6 10:43pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Yeah i hope they turn around soon,i been a fan for a long time,they are still my toronto maple leafs,i got faith in them,you will see.
  20. Dutch
    15. Posted by Dutch Fri Nov 6 10:31pm EST

    Report Abuse

    What happened to these guys? Is the whole SE divison really going to roll over in the first quarter of the season and hand it to the Caps??? Pathetic!
  21. Michael N
    14. Posted by Michael N Fri Nov 6 10:01pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Dang Carolina, you guys stink! It is embarassing.
  22. KQuark
    13. Posted by KQuark Fri Nov 6 9:57pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Carolina really really sucks.
  23. Erik T
    12. Posted by Erik T Fri Nov 6 9:53pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Fack my life and fack the canes

    GOOOOO someone else... anyone else.... im tired of this sh1t paying 80 fckin dollars for a gaddamnd ticket and seeing this bullsh1t fck this man fck this
  24. Kimbo
    11. Posted by Kimbo Fri Nov 6 9:03pm EST

    Report Abuse

    whoa, toronto is showing some heart. lets hope carolina can bring the game to OT because we all know who is going to win if the game goes the distance.
  25. Kimbo
    10. Posted by Kimbo Fri Nov 6 7:49pm EST

    Report Abuse

    get Gustavsson out of the net he is stinking up the game. if toronto loses tonight then there really is no hope for this season anymore.
Sign in to post a comment, or sign up for a free account

Team Stat Leaders

Goals
Assists
Points
Plus/Minus

Scoreboard

Friday, Nov 6
Watch Live Hockey Online with GameCenter Live™

YAHOO! SPORTS

ALSO ON YAHOO!

THINGS YOU CAN DO

- Site Map

Copyright © 2009 2009 STATS LLC and The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the STATS/AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of STATS LLC and The Associated Press.