We’ve all had a toxic relationship at some point whether it’s been with a friend, family member, or significant other. I know I sure have. But what about when two NHL teams have such a bizarre back and forth every time they meet that it becomes an entire league’s toxic relationship. Today we’re looking at the confusing, strange, and nasty history between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Hurricanes were relocated in the summer of 1997 from Hartford Connecticut and although having a Stanley Cup from 2006 under their belt (no not literally under their belt) they have had a rather lackluster history since the relocation. They spent the better part of a decade hovering around the playoff line along with the Maple Leafs where they would often play important games against each other looking for that final Eastern playoff spot. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary between these teams however, that was until they both got good again at the same time. On December 23rd 2019 the Hurricanes and Leafs met in an afternoon faceoff for Toronto’s annual Next Generation game, and right off puck drop it was obvious that there was weirdness in the air. Toronto jumped out to an early lead just 30 seconds in from a goal by Jason Spezza before extending the lead to 3-0 by five minutes into the game. Carolina would score two before the end of the first resulting in a five goal first period and this was just the beginning. Late in the second frame, Carolina would have a three goal flurry in just over a minute for five straight tallies and would take a five goal lead heading into the third. To open the third Matthews got one back for Toronto before the Canes took it back regaining the two goal lead, up 6-4. This is where the game gets even more nuts where at 11:01 into the third Marner buries a shot off a beautiful spin-o-rama pass from Matthews cutting the lead to 1. Just 53 seconds later Barrie would tie the game for toronto off a sweet dish from Marner, and just like that we have the oh so rare 6-6 game. If that wasn’t crazy enough, off the faceoff following the goal Marner stripped the puck off former teammate JVR’s brother Trevor Van Riemsdyk and buried it, regaining the Leaf lead 7-6. Blatant disregard for the bro code from Marner, you don’t do a buddies brother like that. Two goals in 11 seconds was enough to get the Toronto crowd on their feet and propel the team to victory with an eventual empty net goal from Pierre Engvall for an 8-6 Leafs final. But wait… it gets better.
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Almost two months to the day later on February 22nd 2020 the Leafs and Hurricanes would meet yet again in Toronto where more on ice madness would occur. Just three minutes into this one with Matthews circling the net puck on stick, Zach Hyman would crash Hurricanes defender Jaccob Slavin into his own goalie. Reimer would be slow to get up and leave the game, Peter Mrazek would come in relief and the game would continue. With the Hurricanes up 3-1 in the second period a second tragedy would strike as now backup Peter Mrazek had fallen to injury, leaving emergency backup David Ayres to man the net for Carolina. Ayres worked as Toronto’s minor league affiliate, the Marlies zamboni driver and came to the game with a Maple Leafs shirt on. Getting on the ice was the last thing he expected on this night. Sadly despite screaming from my living room for it to be me, the Canes still went with Ayres. The 42 year old now NHL goalie came out sporting a Marlies mask and pads, ironically wearing his now opposing team’s colours. After being granted a short warm up the game was under way and on a Carolina power play the puck would be dumped into Hurricane ice where Ayres would start the play sending it around the boards for an activating defenseman. The play would go up the ice resulting in a Hurricane goal, going up 4-1 in the second period and granting the Ebug a memory he surely wouldn’t forget. Reality began to set in when the Leafs finally entered the zone and Tavares off a rather weak wrister from the point buried it to bring Toronto within two. Just minutes later off a shot that was blocked by bodies in front, Pierre Engvall would finish a rebound making it a 4-3 game heading into the third. Ayres began to settle in at the start of the third, with lots of help from his teammates minimizing Toronto shots on net. The Canes would go out and score a few more for their emergency goalie and this time around would take the game with a 6-3 final. Ayres deservingly received first star and so started the meme that Toronto couldn’t beat their own zamboni driver.
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Aside from regularly high scoring affairs between the teams not much was too out of the norm when they would clash, until this February. Five years to the day from David Ayres wacky adventures Toronto and Carolina would meet again last night for the first showdown since the 4 Nations conclusion. Toronto jumped out to an early 4-0 first period lead and locked the game down, slowing the pace in what seemed like another uneventful game between the two, leaving the epic clashes of past days, well just there… in the past. Seemingly sparked by the words of Chris Cuthbert who referred to the Fins late flurry against Canada just minutes prior, the Hurricanes finally got one on the board cutting the lead to three. Minutes later Svechnikov would score followed by a Jaccob Slavin goal off a bizarre bounce seconds later and just like that it was a 4-3 game with a little under five minutes to go. Although the Hurricanes gave a strong push at the end, Toronto managed to hold down the fort long enough for Auston Matthews to seal the game with an empty net goal putting him at second all time in goals for the Maple Leafs franchise. Toronto would bury another insurance marker before the finale as the Leafs would take the game 6-3 in yet another barn burner between the two clubs.
The recent wild track meets between the teams get even more peculiar when you realize that there is a lot of roster overlap between the clubs. The teams have taken on players from both sides, with Carolina goaltender Freddie Andersen now having been on both sides of this smorgasbord rivalry. With the craziness seemingly having been resparked be on the lookout of what could happen next time the two meet and if this toxic relationship will ever really be put to bed.