Toronto Maple Leafs vs Hurricanes: The NHL's 2 Best Teams of the Last 2 Months
Just last week the Toronto Maple Leafs were only too happy to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout.
The Toronto Maple Leafs shrugged off a bad first period to build a 3-0 lead against arguably the NHL's best team even though they (the Leafs) were without Mitch Marner.
Sure, they eventually blew the lead, but Carolina had to score a power-play goal and then twice with the empty net to make it happen. Since the Leafs didn't have Marner or Jarnkrok (their best defensive and PK fowards) you couldn't be too upset about the result.
Today the Leafs will be without both those players yet again for the rematch.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Hurricanes: The NHL's 2 Best Teams of the Last 2 Months
For the last two months, going back to January 18th, the Leafs and Hurricanes are the NHL's best teams. Had the Leafs won last week's shoot-out, the winner of today's game would be the NHL's best team since that completely arbitrary date. (all stats naturalstattrick.com).
As it is, and given the circumstances, the Leafs will happily take the number-two spot.
As mentioned, the Leafs, coming off an impressive win against Edmonton last night, will once again be without Marner and Jarnkrok.
Auston Matthews only needs two goals to hit 60 goals on the season, and if he scores both of them tonight he will do it before the 70th game of the season.
Matthews has 44 goals in his last 47 games (assuming I know how to count properly) and if he scores six in his next three games he will hit 50 in 50 for the second time in his career.
Whether or not he pulls off that ridiculous feat, what he is doing is still incredibly impressive. With only 13 games left in the season he is going to need to catch fire to hit 70, but don't forget he's doing this while playing most of his minutes with at least one of the worst puck-moving defenseman on the ice with him at most times.
Even crazier: last night's empty-net goal was the first one of the season for him.
Today's game is going to feature former Leafs goalie Freddie Andersen in net for the Hurricanes, while the Toronto Maple Leafs will counter with Joseph Woll.
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A win today would put the Leafs six points back of Boston with two games in hand. The Atlantic Division Title isn't likely, but it's not impossible.