Celebrating the 100th anniversary of their first game, the Toronto Maple Leafs snapped a three-game National Hockey League losing streak Tuesday by routing the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 8-1.
Mitch Marner and Tyler Bozak each scored a goal and assisted on three others, James van Riemsdyk added a goal and two assists while Leo Komarov, Patrick Marleau, Kasperi Kapanen, William Nylander and Connor Carrick also found the net for Toronto.
The afternoon “Next Century Game” matchup at Air Canada Centre paid tribute to the matchup on December 19, 1917, in which the Toronto Arenas, who eventually became the Maple Leafs, lost 10-9 to the Montreal Wanderers.
The Maple Leafs, wearing jerseys based upon those worn a century ago by the Arenas, improved to 21-13 with one over-time loss with Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen stopping 32 shots.
Only Eastern Conference leader Tampa Bay and Western Conference co-leader St. Louis have more wins this season than the Maple Leafs.
Toronto star center Auston Matthews missed his fifth consecutive game with an upper body injury. While he has been skating during his recovery, no return date has been decided.
