GDT: Leafs vs. Hurricanes (7 p.m., Sportsnet-O)

by Mislav Jantoljak on March 27, 2012 in Game Day - 1,120 Comments

Photo Credit: heraldsun.com

The Hurricanes will visit the ACC tonight in a game which could potentially have huge ramifications on our draft pick. Both teams have collected 75 points in the 76 games played.

This is the fourth and final meeting between these two teams. All three previous games were one goal games which saw Carolina grab the game winner in two of the three.

The Leafs will be looking to grab a win in the ACC for the first time in seven weeks (yes, it really has been that long). That’s good news for Tank Nation, as the Leafs play host to Philadelphia and Buffalo after tonight to complete a four-game homestand and play their final game at the ACC against Tampa Bay next week.

QUOTES TO NOTE:

“We left our goaltender out to dry a lot,” said Chad LaRose, who along with Jamie McBain also scored for Carolina. “It could have been 10-4.”

Pause if this sounds familiar.

“We’re trying to win every game regardless of whether we get booed or we get cheered,” said center David Steckel, who assisted on the goals by Crabb and Connolly. “We had that mentality tonight but fell a point short.”

WHO TO WATCH:

Eric Staal has been on fire for the second part of this season. The star center has 7 points in his last four games, having multiple point games in 3 out of the 4. He also scored four goals during that period. Staal has completely resurrected his season under Muller, collecting 68 points in 76 games played despite a slow start.

INJURIES:

Carolina will be missing forward Andreas Nodl due to a concussion and defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (lower body injury). The Leafs are without Joffrey Lupul and Nikolai Kulemin, who are on IR, while Matt Frattin, Mike Brown and Clarke MacArthur are considered day-to-day. All three players were on the ice practicing.

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