GAMEDAY: Maple Leafs end trip in Carolina in first meeting with Hurricanes

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Toronto Maple Leafs (27-13-2) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (24-15-2)

When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Lenovo Center

TV: TSN Radio: The Fan 590

Odds: Maple Leafs +124, Hurricanes -154

The buzz

As the Maple Leafs went about beating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday, the Hurricanes lost by a similar score in Tampa Bay against the Lightning. Carolina has been inconsistent, going 8-10-1 in its past 19 games, a stretch that started on Nov. 29 … During the Leafs’ five-game winning streak, they’ve been outshot in all five games. No matter the score on Thursday night, don’t expect that to change. Before games on Wednesday, the Hurricanes were second in shots-for in the National Hockey League at 31.9 a game. Only Edmonton, at 32 shots a game, averaged more. The Leafs were 17th at 28.3 shots a game … Carolina owns a tidy 15-5-0 record on home ice. In its past two home losses, the Hurricanes have been shut out — 4-0 by Minnesota on Jan. 4 and 3-0 by Ottawa on Dec. 13 … It’s the first meeting of the season between the teams. The Leafs, who didn’t practise on Wednesday as their mentors trip continued, have played every other Eastern Conference club at least once … Since being named to Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis has 13 points (four goals and nine assists) in 16 games … Former Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen on Wednesday skated for the first time since he had knee surgery on Nov. 22. The Hurricanes remain in the hunt for a goalie, as Pyotr Kochetkov has a sub-par .902 save percentage in 26 games … Joseph Woll, meanwhile, is taking advantage of an increased workload with Anthony Stolarz on the shelf. “I’ve just enjoyed playing, honestly,” Woll said. “It’s fun to play a lot of games and it’s easy to get in more of a rhythm when you’re playing more.”

The news

Based on line rushes in Carolina at the morning skate, Leafs forwards Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg will draw back into the lineup, and Max Pacioretty and Ryan Reaves will be scratched. Robertson sat out the Leafs’ win in Philadelphia on Tuesday, while Holmberg has not played in the past five games. He got through a sickness before he returned to practice recently …  Woll starts in goal for the Leafs. His only career start against Carolina came last March, and he made 41 saves in a 2-1 Leafs loss in Raleigh … On the blue line, Leafs coach Craig Berube is reuniting Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson will play with Philippe Myers.

The quote

“For a guy like him to try to set the tone in the first period is huge and it definitely doesn’t go unnoticed. He’s an extremely high-IQ player. I think he does all the little things really well. May not be the biggest, fastest guy on the ice, but he is extremely effective.”

— Captain Auston Matthews on forward Connor Dewar and the latter’s fight with Philadelphia’s Joel Farabee on Tuesday.

The projected Leafs lineup

Forwards

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander

Nick Robertson-Max Domi-Steven Lorentz

Connor Dewar-David Kampf-Pontus Holmberg

Defence

Morgan Rielly-Chris Tanev

Oliver Ekman-Larsson–Philippe Myers

Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins

Goal

Joseph Woll

Dennis Hildeby

Injuries

TOR: D Jake McCabe (upper body), G Anthony Stolarz (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee).

CAR: G Frederik Andersen (knee), D Shayne Gostisbehere (upper body), F William Carrier (lower body), F Jesper Fast (neck), F Tyson Jost (undisclosed).

Prediction

Carolina prevails with a 4-2 victory, sending the Leafs to their first road loss in six games and first since Dec. 14 in Detroit.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun