Carolina Hurricanes forward Jay McClement (18) tries to get by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Peter Holland (24) during the second period at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016.John E. Sokolowski
Jordan Staal scored in overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 on Thursday.
Staal started the play with a rush up the ice and beat his man to the net to chip in a rebound off a shot from Justin Faulk at 2:54 of the extra period.
Eddie Lack made 31 saves for the Hurricanes (21-19-8).
James Reimer stopped 39 shots for the Maple Leafs (17-20-8)
Carolina got out to a quick start and had its first scoring chance just a minute into the game off the stick of Eric Staal.
Martin Marincin got his stick up high and clipped Jeff Skinner in the face, leading to the game's first power play, and the Hurricanes kept up their pressure, with Staal coming close to a goal after putting the puck just wide of Reimer from his off wing.
Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau had Toronto's first real chance to score on a goal-mouth scramble while on the power play midway through the period, but couldn't get good wood on a Lack rebound.
Shots were 8-1 Hurricanes six minutes into the contest, but the Leafs picked up their play and led 12-10 after a scoreless first period.
Toronto started the second period the same way it ended the first by controlling much of the possession and limited the Hurricanes from any sort of set up in the offensive zone.
Tyler Bozak made an inside-out move to get around Faulk for a partial breakaway four minutes into the second, but Lack was there to keep the game scoreless. And Michael Grabner was turned away by Lack on a short-handed breakaway a few minutes later.
Reimer went 11 minutes without facing a shot in the second, but had to be sharp when Dion Phaneuf went to the box for delay of game – making three saves including one on a re-direct to keep it 0-0.
Shots were 25-22 Toronto through 40 minutes but both clubs were still searching for a goal.
The third period lacked any real danger or scoring threats, with both teams waiting for the other to make a mistake to pounce on. Carolina, though held a 14-3 edge in shots and took a 37-27 shot lead into overtime.
Notes: Forward Brad Boyes was skating in his 800th career NHL game... Forward Josh Leivo and defenceman Frank Corrado were healthy scratches for the Leafs... Carolina centre Eric Staal entered the night with 20 goals and 43 points in 38 career games against Toronto.