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 Scott Walker had a goal and an assist and Tim Gleason also scored for Carolina.
Toronto captain Mats Sundin scored with 11.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
Brind'Amour's game-winner came on the power play after Nikolai Antropov took a hooking penalty with 2:26 left. The Hurricanes took advantage of the extra space on the ice, playing 4-on-3.
Walker gave Carolina a 2-1 lead 3:29 into the third period when he deflected Gleason's slap shot by Toronto goalkeeper Vesa Toskala, who had his stick knocked from his hands. The goal was reviewed but it was determined that Walker's stick was below the crossbar when he made the deflection.
Carolina has won four of its last five games, while the Maple Leafs dropped their third straight. It was only the fourth time all season the Hurricanes have come back to win after trailing at the end of the first period.
Toronto took an early 1-0 lead 3:20 into the game when Jiri Tlusty beat goalkeeper Cam Ward with a blast from the slot. The Maple Leafs took advantage of an odd-man rush that left Ward with almost no defensive help.
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But Ward came back with a stellar effort the rest of the way, finishing with 24 saves. He also benefited from a couple of missed opportunities by the Maple Leafs late in the third period.
Sundin missed an open goal opportunity with under nine minutes left that would have tied the game. Moments later, Jason Blake thought he stuffed a puck by Ward but the officials on the ice immediately ruled no goal was scored. Video replay confirmed the call.
The Hurricanes tied the game at 1 on Gleason's second goal of the season at 13:19 of the second period. Gleason's slap shot from the right point bounced off Toronto's Ian White before it trickled past Toskala and into the goal.
The Maple Leafs also struggled on the power play, going 0-of-1. Toronto has gone five games without a man-advantage goal. Carolina's power play also was ineffective, going 0-of-4.
Notes: Toronto lost three of the four meetings with Carolina.. Carolina LW Ray Whitney has points in four straight games. Sundin recorded his 1,300th NHL point.
[Associated Press]
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