Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs keeping their fighting spirits alive – NHL Preview
The run to National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs for Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs is expected to end in disappointment as both teams are ranked far below the comfort zone in the Eastern Conference and stand virtually no chance of overcoming
the other competitive teams.
However, it is always encouraging to keep the fighting spirits alive and that’s what these teams are going to do when they will play against each other on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Here is a look at both teams.
Hurricanes
They are ranked at 12th spot in the Eastern Conference with 75 points after 76 games and are nine points behind the eighth-ranked Washington Capitals.
Hurricanes have six more games to play in the regular season and it is unlikely for them to reach the playoffs especially when they are on a two-game losing streak.
The recent defeats came against Columbus Blue Jackets (5-1) and Detroit Red Wings (5-4).
In their last game, Hurricanes had a one-goal lead against Red Wings at the end of the first period. However, Hurricanes defended poorly throughout the rest of the game and despite scoring three goals in the second period, they allowed Red Wings to score
three goals.
In the final period, Hurricanes conceded two more goals without scoring any and lost the game.
Leafs
Leafs have the same number of points and games played as Hurricanes and are ranked at 13th spot in the Eastern Conference.
They also have six games left in the regular season and are expected not to qualify for the playoffs.
Out of their last four games, Leafs have lost three with the recent defeat coming against the conference leaders, New York Rangers.
Leafs did give a challenging time to Rangers, but could not defend well. Both teams went neck and neck throughout the regulation and scored a goal each in all the three periods, paving the way for overtime.
The overtime went goalless and eventually the game was forced to shootout where Leafs scored once while Rangers scored twice to win the game.
Leafs’ centre, David Steckel, said after the game:
"We're trying to win every game regardless of whether we get booed or we get cheered. We had that mentality tonight but fell a point short."
Predictions
Hurricanes might win.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might be six or more.
If Leafs win, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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