Last night’s tilt against Carolina was not a pretty game. But at this stage of the season, and with everything that is going on around the team, any tick in the dusty win column is good news.

With the Leafs up by 2 at the end of the third, Carolina turned on their jets. Rod Brind’Amour tipped in a shot from Whitney with 9 seconds on the clock. Leafs fans across the country felt their chests tightening as it looked like the same old story was about to unfold. A third period meltdown, this time with only 9 seconds on the clock.

Sundin vs. Brind’Amour on a face off in the Leafs zone with 5 seconds left. Carolina’s net is vacated by Ward and left empty. All we need is a face off win, and a defenseman to skate around the net to waste the final seconds. Sundin wins the draw and the puck goes to Kubina? And what does he do? He has a MAJOR brain cramp and fires the puck down the ice. Now, I suppose he was aiming for the empty net, but the puck was iced instead.

There was 2.7 seconds left on the clock. Of course, time ran more than it should have, so .6 seconds were added on after a lengthly delay.

Another face off in the Maple Leafs zone, this time with only 3.3 seconds left. Once again, the breathing of Leaf fans stops, and everyone half expects Carolina to score the equalizer. Good ole’ Sundin wins the draw again, and this time the Leafs hang on to the puck.

Leafs win.

No one would have been surprised if Carolina won the draw and blasted home the tying goal. We have all come to expect it.

All in all, a win is a win. The bounces were going the Leafs way this game, as demonstrated perfectly by Ian White’s seeing-eye goal from the blueline. While Toskala did allow 4 goals, he actually looked pretty sharp in the net. He has gotten his speed back, and the flexibility is coming.

Let’s hope the Leafs can build on this one and put together a string of wins.