Nikishin skated into the right face-off circle and scored with a snap shot, using Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe as a screen.
William Nylander had tied it 3-3 for the Maple Leafs at 13:50 of the third period. He carried the puck out of the corner, cut to the net and banked a shot off the back of Brandon Bussi’s stick, causing the puck to trickle between the goalie’s pads.
Eric Robinson scored on a penalty shot, and Jordan Staal and K'Andre Miller also scored for the Hurricanes (44-19-6), who have won three of their past four games. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each had two assists, and Bussi made 23 saves.
Dakota Joshua and John Tavares scored, and Joseph Woll made 32 saves for the Maple Leafs (29-28-13), who are 2-7-4 in their past 13. Matias Maccelli had two assists.
Joshua put Toronto up 1-0 at 11:48 of the first period, scoring after Bussi kicked out a rebound from Bo Groulx’s shot into the slot.
The Hurricanes tied it 1-1 on the power play at 5:57 of the second period, just as a double-minor penalty to Brandon Carlo for high-sticking was expiring. Jarvis one-timed a pass from Aho at the top of the right circle, and the shot was deflected by Staal at the top of the crease.
Robinson put Carolina up 2-1 at 12:35 on a penalty shot, shooting under Woll’s glove from the left hash marks. Robinson was awarded the shot after Troy Stecher hooked him on a breakaway.
Tavares then tied it 2-2 at 13:47. He outmuscled Jaccob Slavin behind the net and swung a wrap-around shot between Bussi’s pads. It was his first even-strength goal in 19 games since Jan. 23.
Miller scored for the second straight game to put Carolina up 3-2 at 17:40. He tucked a backhand deke past Woll on a short-handed breakaway.
