→ A similar script played out on the scoresheet in the second period. Early on carry-over power play time from the first, Teuvo Teravainen's point shot found twine after Leafs' defenseman Morgan Rielly redirected the puck while trying to defend Staal in the slot.
Seven minutes later, Toronto again tied the game, this time off the stick of James van Riemsdyk.
"I thought it was a good hockey game," Peters said. "There was some real good pace and a lot of skill both ways."
→ The Hurricanes went down a forward very early into tonight's contest. On his first shift of his second career game, Valentin Zykov absorbed a big hit from Roman Polak along the near boards. It was a dangerous play, as Zykov was sent hurdling face-first into the boards. No call was made on the play, but Zykov did not return to the game with what was deemed an upper-body injury.
"It didn't look good. It looked like it was a hard hit. He went in awkwardly," Peters said. "It's a tough one, a tough play for the kid. First shift for Z in the game coming off a pretty exciting game for him."
→ The Hurricanes will face off with the New York Islanders in a back-to-back, home-and-home set on Monday and Tuesday.
"We'll just keep working and taking advantage of what we have to do off the ice to help us keep our legs and keep us going," Staal said. "It's a lot of hockey, but it's been good, and we've been working hard."
"I thought they were competitive tonight, and I think they're going to be competitive each and every night. They've got a lot to prove, these guys," Peters said. "It's the best time of year to make an assessment on a player because teams are desperate for points, absolutely desperate and hungry big time. So if you can play at this time of year, then you're an NHL player. If you fall off and struggle at the most important time of the year when the intensity of the games is very high, we have to be aware of that and make decisions on that."
