The Dec. 19 matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs presented a battle for a huge two points in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference. Toronto and Carolina also entered this meeting going in different directions in the standings.
Without Auston Matthews in the lineup, the Leafs were struggling to muster any type of scoring during a three-game losing streak. The Leafs were coming off a 3-1 loss to a slumping Detroit Red Wings team.
Meanwhile, the Canes were coming off a huge 2-1 win over Metro foe the Columbus Blue Jackets. Scott Darling came up huge for the Canes in that win, completely outplaying the reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrosvky.