Dennis Hildeby in Toronto net to start third period with Maple Leafs eventually beating Hurricanes 5-1<\/p>\n
Get the latest from Lance Hornby straight to your inbox Sign Up <\/p>\n
Published Dec 04, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 3\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n The Maple Leafs finished their trip strong, but Joseph Woll didn\u2019t complete the game.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That put a damper on a dramatic turnaround in team fortunes<\/a> over the last six away games, a 4-2 record that underlined Toronto has lots of life with four full months remaining in the NHL schedule.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Led by yet another first-shot goal<\/a> and two outstanding plays engineered by Matthew Knies, the Leafs beat the notoriously stingy \u2013 and well-rested \u2013 Carolina Hurricanes 5-1.<\/p>\n Woll, who\u2019d made 22 saves in the first two periods, was replaced by Dennis Hildeby in the third, out with what the Leafs announced was a lower-body injury. Woll appeared to be favouring his left side late in the second period after a stretch save.<\/p>\n Severity of Woll\u2019s injury unclear<\/p>\n Leading by three goals at the time, it was initially unclear if the move was precautionary given Woll would likely be starting Saturday night against Montreal in the first of two divisional home games, followed Monday by a visit from Tampa Bay. Or whether his injury history caught up to him after missing the first month of the season while dealing with a personal issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see tomorrow (an off-day back in Toronto),\u201d head coach Craig Berube said. \u201cHopefully it\u2019s not (serious).\u201d<\/p>\n Anything long term would be incredibly problematic with Anthony Stolarz still not on the ice after his upper-body injury early in November<\/a>.<\/p>\n But kudos to the Leafs for their best road record in a swing of five games or more since 2007. It came at a time when the team was scraping the bottom of the Eastern Conference and impatient fans and media were urging changes.<\/p>\n But a strong effort from the bottom-six forwards and Woll\u2019s .947 save percentage the past three starts sparked the turnaround.<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED VIDEO We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play VideoQuick start, big game from Knies fuels win<\/p>\n Back in 2021, Frederik Andersen just missed Knies as the goaltender departed Toronto and the Leafs drafted the young American left-winger.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n For Andersen, there was no escaping Knies Thursday when the full power-forward package was on display.<\/p>\n In the second period, after the Leafs scored on the game\u2019s opening shot for the fourth straight time, Knies broke away, brushing off two pawing Canes to beat Andersen on a backhand.<\/p>\n Not content with that highlight reel, Knies broke up a pass in Toronto\u2019s end by getting his stick shaft parallel to the ice to send away linemates Auston Matthews<\/a> and Max Domi. Knies trailed the play with\u00a0an adroit pick of a Carolina defender to preserve Domi\u2019s 2-on-1 feed for the captain\u2019s 11th of the year.<\/p>\n The first period was quite the tale of 20 minutes.<\/p>\n Help from improved penalty killing<\/p>\n It was all Toronto to\u00a0begin, including Bobby McMann on its first attempt. The four-goal streak has\u00a0only happened twice in the\u00a0league since 2008-09, last accomplished by Tampa Bay four years ago.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n McMann and the Leafs\u2019 suddenly hot third line clicked when Nicolas Roy set him up, McMann hitting the post and the back of\u00a0Andersen.<\/p>\n Andersen couldn\u2019t be faulted on Scott Laughton\u2019s second in as many games, a rim attempt that struck something uneven on the high glass and came out the other side of the\u00a0net to the open Leaf.<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s improved penalty killing survived minors to Matthews and Morgan Rielly, allowing no shots on the latter, but an Easton Cowan spill up ice meant Seth Jarvis got a step on him to convert on Carolina\u2019s first goal. McMann added an empty netter.<\/p>\n The Leafs were 0-for-2 on the power play, tweaking it yet again with defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson ending the first-unit experiment with five forwards. But there were still too many chances the other way.<\/p>\n lhornby@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n X: @sunhornby<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Craig Berube will scratch when it itches, Maple Leafs are better for it<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CP175430172-e1764902898842.jpg\")
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) watches the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Karl DeBlaker \/AP PhotoArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.1.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"opening](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.1.2\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-sun-middaySun.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"Loading...\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.1.2\/websites\/images\/common\/icon-spinner-animated.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"Anton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/max-domi-dec-3-scaled-e1764801486543.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Bobby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1204-bobby-mcmann-leafs-panthers.jpg\")
<\/p>\n