(Photos) Hurricanes headed North to face Leafs

RALEIGH, N.C. – Following a 3-2 shootout loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, the Carolina Hurricanes embark on a four-game road trip which begins in Toronto on Thursday.

“They’ve got off to a good start,” Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller said of the Leafs after practice on Wednesday.

“They have momentum, they’re playing well. Same thing for us I think. That was a real big point yesterday the way we played the Stanley Cup champs – down 2-0 and you fight back – that’s what I was most happy about our game there.”

Powered by third-period goals from forward Alexander Semin and defenseman Ron Hainsey, the Hurricanes tied the score 2-2 with 7:27 to play while goaltender Cam Ward held his ground in making 34 saves to earn the point against the Blackhawks.

Carolina and Toronto will face off for the first of three games this season with the Hurricanes holding the edge from last season, finishing with a 2-1-0 record against the Leafs in 2012-2013.

The Hurricanes (2-2-3) have won 16 of the last 23 meetings between the two clubs, including five in an overtime/shootout, going 16-6-1 during the stretch, but will have to work hard going up against a hot Leafs team that is 6-1 overall and 3-1 at home so far this season.