TORONTO, May 24: Coach Pat Quinn left hospital to provide the Toronto Maple Leafs with an emotional lift, but Arturs Irbe’s shutout led the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-0 win in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday.

The victory allowed the Hurricanes to take control of the best-of-seven series 3-1, meaning that Toronto must win when the action shifts back to Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday.

When Quinn, whose recovery was described as “remarkable” by doctors, appeared behind the bench before the opening faceoff, the sellout crowd of 19,299 leapt to their feet to give the 59-year-old coach a standing ovation.

Jaroslav Svoboda and Sami Kapanen both broke out of post-season scoring slumps to notch their first playoff goals while captain Ron Francis nailed down the victory with his fifth.

Toronto generated plenty of scoring chances in all three periods, outshooting the Hurricanes 31-15. But the night was one of missed opportunities, particularly on the powerplay.

Svoboda’s powerplay goal accounted for all the first period scoring, the Hurricanes winger slapping home a rebound from the side of the Toronto net.

Following a scoreless second period, the Leafs surged into the attack in the third but could not beat Irbe despite applying persistent pressure.

As the Maple Leafs grew increasingly frustrated, Carolina launched a counter-attack, Kapanen getting an insurance goal and Francis adding another powerplay tally with 2:25 left to play.

BASEBALL RESULTS

NEW YORK: Results of Thursday’s Major League Baseball games (home team in CAPS):

American League

Baltimore 11 OAKLAND 3

SEATTLE 7 Tampa Bay 3

BOSTON 3 NY Yankees 1

Texas at KANSAS CITY (POSTPONED)

National League

Florida 8 CINCINNATI 4

Los Angeles 16 MILWAUKEE 3

ST LOUIS 5 Houston 4

CHICAGO CUBS 11 Pittsburgh 6

NY Mets 1 PHILADELPHIA 0

COLORADO 16 San Diego 3.—Reuters