The unthinkable occurred during a mid-February tilt in Toronto, setting up one of the greatest evenings in NHL history.
The Context
Just before the 2020 Trade Deadline, on February 22, 2020, the Carolina Hurricanes traveled to Toronto to play the second half of a back-to-back. They had just returned from a disappointing 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers at PNC Arena the previous evening, losing to a pair of Rangers who would go on to become Hurricanes as well as the typical suspects. The Canes were attempting to win again on this Saturday night. Before Christmas, the Canes and Maple Leafs played a fantastic goal-scoring clinic in Toronto, only two months earlier. The scoring was quick and intense. The Canes led 5-3 after 40 minutes after the Leafs had taken a 3-0 lead in the first period in 5:10. The Canes responded with five goals in a row. In the third quarter, Toronto regained control of the game and won 8–6 by outscoring the Canes 5–1, including the last four goals. Mitch Marner’s two goals and three assists were superior to Martin Necas’s two goals and two assists. That December game for the Canes began with former Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer, who played for little over five minutes before Petr Mrazek took his place. Toronto’s goalkeeper, Frederik Andersen, earned the victory despite giving up six goals. In an attempt to make up for poor performances, Reimer and Andersen would be back in the creases for respective teams when they met in February. Toronto and Carolina had vastly different starting lineups for the game, while having identical records and point totals. In a crowded Metropolitan Division, the Canes were having trouble standing out. Toronto was attempting to stave off the Florida Panthers as they approached them while sitting third in the Atlantic Division. With 43 goals, Auston Matthews and Sebastian Aho were tied for the league lead. Aho was not far behind with 35 goals.