Maple Leafs can't handle the storm surge.

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered tonight's game undefeated in 2025, with a five game win streak to open the calendar year. The Carolina Hurricanes are decidedly average this season.

The Leafs decided to start off the game dominating the opponent like they have the schedule (ignore how they won all those past games please) with Nick Robertson opening the scoring in less than two minutes:

Nick Robertson is always ready to show coach Berube why he shouldn't be scratching him for Ryan Reaves.

1-0 Toronto.

William Nylander looks to double up the score a few minutes later as he gets his second breakaway of the game, comes in close to try a backhand over the shoulder of Pyotr Kochetkov, but he's denied and his goalless streak continues.

However, he gets another chance all alone and finally gets one in the net to make it 2-0 Toronto.

It takes half a period, but the Hurricanes battle back and beat Woll for the first, and hopefully only time this game. Nick Robertson got down to block the shot, but deflected the puck in a way to kinda confuse everyone, and Eric Robinson is able to jump on top of it to cut the Leafs lead in half.

Then off the face off, the Hurricanes come back down to the Leafs end and Jordan Staal nets one from net front to tie the game.

Two goals in 17 seconds for Carolina, and it's two all.

Morgan Rielly gets the first penalty of the game, tripping Andrei Svechnikov with 3:20 to go in the first. The penalty kill keeps the Hurricanes at bay for the first half by constantly dumping out the puck, or forcing them to cycle around looking for a shot. They keep it up and no power play goal, and the Hurricanes don't take the lead.

The first period ends with the game tied 2-2 and the Hurricanes having played catch up to take the lead in shots 14-13.

In the second period, the Hurricanes catch a high sticking penalty - Brent Burns on Matthew Knies - and go on the defensive immediately. They however don't know the meaning of defense and score an early shorthanded goal.

Jordan Stall makes it 3-2.

While the Leafs are still on the power play (0-11 recently), Auston Matthews decides he doesn't want to lose and comes right back with a power play goal to tie the game up again.

3-3 with 18 minutes to go in the second.

The game keeps going back and forth, up and down the ice. Sloppy at times, Frustrating as well, but it's not boring that's for sure.

Speaking of frustrating, Carolina scores their fourth goal of the game five minutes into the second period, with Jackson Blake going five holl on Woll to get the Hurricanes back into the lead.

4-3 thanks to the son of a former Maple Leaf.

Bobby McMann is then quickly called for interference against Jack Roslovic, so the Hurricanes are on power play number two and they're getting better opportunities this time around. No goals though.

The broadcast talks about pulling Woll, but he stays in and keeps doing the hard work to keep the score close.

A third penalty for Toronto, this time coming against Auston Matthews for slashing Svechnikov and breaking his stick. The Leafs penalty kill does exactly that, and limits the Hurricanes to one shot on goal for two minutes, and keep the game close.

The Hurricanes think they scored, but the Leafs say Woll was pushed into the net. We wait for the review, and it's in our favour as there's no clear evidence that the puck crossed the line. Another close coll saved by Woll.

With two minutes remaining, Justin Chatfield is called for tripping Matthew Knies, who is very good at getting calls. The Maple Leafs have a chance to tie the game before the end of the second period.

The power play stays mostly in the Hurricanes end, before Sebastian Aho gets a break away, but misses the target. Toronto rushes back, no goal, and then another Carolina break away ends without a goal.

After two periods the Hurricanes lead the Leafs 4-3, and also lead 24-20 in shots.

The Hurricanes open the third period with Jordan Staal completing his hat trick for the night with a goal after the opening face off.

5-3 Carolina.

At least there's some entertainment happening. Goalie fell down, ha.

He made a save though, that's less entertaining.

The Leafs are trying, but the Hurricanes have made this their game. More saves, more shots, more chances, more icetime.

The Leafs pick up the pace as we get to the final five minutes of the period, throwing more shots on net, making the defenders and goalie work harder, but nothing is crossing the goal line, and they still trail by two goals.

With just over three minutes remaining the Leafs poll Woll out of the net, but Seth Jarvis easily skates the puck right up to the empty net to add in the guaranteed win goal to make it 6-3.

Three more minutes happened and the Leafs lost.

The first loss of 2025 has come, at the hands of a middling team in the Metro Division. Better than happening on Saturday night against the Canucks I guess.

The Maple Leafs weren't outwardly terrible in this game, but it just felt like they were a step behind Carolina every moment of the game after Jordan Staals short handed goal. This was Carolinas fifth straight win over Toronto.

Pick yourselves up, dust off the loss and see if Anthony Stolarz is close to coming back.

Saturday night, 7PM against the Canucks, on CBC.

See you there. Maybe. I guess.