Toronto ? Arturs Irbe made sure that Pat Quinn’s return didn’t inspire the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Irbe stopped 31 shots while rookie Sami Kapanen and Ron Francis each had a goal and an assist, lifting Carolina to a 3-0 win over Toronto in Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals Thursday.

Rookie Jaroslav Svoboda also scored, giving the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes Saturday at Carolina.

The Maple Leafs lost their third straight game despite getting an emotional boost when Quinn was released from hospital 21/2 hours before game time. Quinn, who returned to the hospital following the game, has been monitored the past two days for an irregular heartbeat.

The coach received a standing ovation before the game, and the Maple Leafs responded with a solid start, in which they outshot Carolina 9-1 through the first 14 minutes.

Irbe, who recorded his first career playoff shutout, was remarkable. His best series of saves came four minutes into the third period with Carolina clinging to a 1-0 lead.

Irbe got his right pad out to stop Tomas Kaberle’s point shot, which was deflected in front. Irbe then went to his right to stop Jonas Hoglund’s attempt to fire in the rebound.

After being outplayed, and killing off three straight penalties in the first period, the Hurricanes responded with a barrage of shots on Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph during a power play with 2:10 remaining in the opening frame.

Kapanen set in motion Svoboda’s goal for a 1-0 lead when he chased down a loose puck deep in the Toronto end, and sent the puck back to Sean Hill at the point. Hill’s shot was blocked by Joseph, who couldn’t handle the rebound.

Svoboda got two whacks at the puck, stuffing the second one in through Joseph’s legs.

Kapanen made it 2-0 with 8:19 remaining, ending a 16-game playoff goal drought. Francis pounced on Anders Eriksson’s weak pass behind the Toronto net, and fed the puck in front where Kapanen lifted a shot over Joseph’s left shoulder.

It was the first time either team had a two-goal edge in the series after the first three games ended with 2-1 scores. Carolina won the two previous games in overtime.

Despite his illness, the 59-year-old Quinn showed that he had not lost his edge. He was spotted chewing out Toronto center Alyn McCauley on the bench at the end of the first period.

“We thought it was safe for him to come and do this,” said Dr. Jean Rouleau, the director of cardiology at Toronto’s Mt. Sinai Hospital.