TORONTO, March 15 (UPI) -- After the Toronto Maple Leafs lost star goaltender Curtis Joseph in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Hurricanes supplied the replacement.
The Maple Leafs on Friday acquired goaltender Tom Barrasso from Carolina for a fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft.
Barrasso, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, won a pair of Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992. Playing his 18th NHL season, Barrasso is 13-12-5 in 34 games this season with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
The American Olympian is in 11th place on the NHL's all-time wins list for goaltenders. Among the league's active netminders, Barrasso is fifth in shutouts with 37 and third in wins with 366.
Joseph, perhaps the Leafs' most important player, suffered a broken bone in his left hand in a Feb. 26 game against the Hurricanes and will probably be sidelined for at least three more weeks.
Corey Schwab filled in for Joseph and the Leafs have gone 3-2-3. However, Schwab has allowed just one goal in each contest of Toronto's current four-game unbeaten streak (3
1-0).
The move also settles the goaltending situation in Carolina. Arturs Irbe, who had shared starting duties with Barrasso, likely will be between the posts for the Hurricanes down the stretch. Carolina's backup is Kevin Weekes, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 5 for right wing Shane Willis and left wing Chris Dingman.
*
