Canes Win One, Lose One Against Top Division Teams

Cary, NC – The Super Bowl may have been slow but the action was fast-paced at PNC Arena as the Carolina Hurricanes took on the Division leaders the Calgary Flames, as well as the Stanley Cup finalists the Las Vegas Golden Knights earlier in the weekend.

Canes Triumph Over Knights, 5-2

Last year after the mandatory week off, the Hurricanes, like many teams, had rust and found it took a few games to get back in game-shape with timing and all. But in playing their first game in what has seemed like forever, it took just a few shifts. The NHL learned from last year when they had teams who had their week off playing teams who continued play with their week off scheduled at a different time, the team coming off break lost all too frequently.

The Las Vegas Golden Knights also had last week off so both teams were equally rusty. Rusty is not in Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s vocabulary so Caniacs knew the Canes would be ready to go. While the Knights scored the all-important first goal, the Canes played a complete game with eight players getting points, including two goals that were unassisted, winning 5-2.

Niederreiter Scores Again

The first shift or two for both teams weren’t the prettiest of the season as passes were all too frequently behind the intended teammate, but the drive and passion were there. Justin Williams, who has been a great captain, got the first penalty of the game when he grabbed the stick to stop a Knight blowing by him on the far side. The Canes’ defense was doing a great job thwarting the Knights from a shot in close, forcing the puck on the perimeter. Nate Schmidt was on the left point, made a long cross ice pass to Shea Theodore on the right point with his stick cocked for a shot. Theodore sent a perfectly placed slap shot to the far right upper corner that found Petr Mrazek in a little too deep and not able to stop his slide to his left quick enough.

The Canes have only won six games after surrendering the first goal but none were on a Friday home game in which the Canes wear their good luck black sweaters. Just over the 11 minute mark, Justin Faulk passed the puck to Willie camped out right in front of goalie Maxime Lagace. Willie kicked the puck soccer-style to the slot where newly acquired Nino Niederreiter slammed the puck in to tie the game. It was the fifth goal in five games for El Niño.

The Knights challenged the goal which was all too similar to a recent goal against the Canes in a game in mid January, and fortunately the goal stood. Late in the period, the Knights came oh so close to scoring when the puck was shot from the far corner going behind Mrazek, hitting the post to bounce in the paint just in front of the goal line. Mrazek flopped down and the puck slipped away from under his pads, but Sebastian Aho was there to swipe it into the back boards.

Pesce, Martinook Put Canes Back in the Lead

Early in the second, Aho had the puck in the near corner pushing a one hander towards the slot. Lagace took two strides out of the crease to push the puck out of the dirty area. Good luck for the Canes and Brett Pesce in particular as the puck was like a softball on a tee as Pesce knew the puck was in before he made the shot.

The entire second period was a faster pace than the first with every player turning it up a notch. Andrei Svechnikov continues to impress and improve with every game. It’s hard to remember he’s only 18 years old as his skill level and strength are well beyond any normal player that age. While he did not get any credit for an assist, how he sets up plays and muscles opponents is just plain fun to watch.

Jordan Martinook centered his line – and nothing against Marty as he’s a solid team player and we’re all glad he signed a new contract over the break – but just like how Jeff Skinner is excelling this season with a first class center in Jack Eickel, once Svech gets a first line center, this kid is going to be the franchise player he’s hyped to be. The Knights were getting stronger as the period went on with Theodore scoring his second of the night from almost the the same spot he scored his first.

Less than 30 seconds later, Brock McGinn, whose name the game announcer does a great job with, came down on the left wing threading a pass to Marty who did a quick shot lifting it short side to put the Canes back up just before the period ended.

Aho, Faulk Seal Win

Big change in the team this year over the past few years is this team, when heading into the third period with a lead, is playing to keep the lead while also being aggressive on the puck. Playing to keep the lead doesn’t mean turtling – a Brind’Amour team would never turtle – but is cautious with passes, hard on loose pucks, more possession than normal and still aggressive in the offensive zone. If there was more scoring to be had, the next goal would be huge.

And it was. Jaccob Slavin started a clear in the D-zone, passing over to Faulker, who made a long pass to Seabass on the right side in front of the Knights’ bench. Seabass turned on his jets and, with a defender draped all over him, turned down his shoulder and went to the net, putting backhander top shelf that was pure beauty and skill sending the Caniacs into a frenzy.

The Knights, who were in the Stanley Cup finals last year, are a good team and dug deep, started getting a little more physical. The Canes met the challenge and held off every attack with the defense playing exceptionally well along with Mrazek being solid in net. With the Knights’ goalie pulled late in the game, Faulkner sent a 195-foot shot to the center of the net to seal the win putting the nearly sellout crowd into high fives all around, just waiting for the team celebration.

Noteworthy: with the two points tonight, Faulk is now the franchise point leader for a defenseman passing Mike Babach and Glen Wesley. A special thanks to the Canes for a great game that had four special friends from Argentina attend including Cary resident Gilberto Guitarte.

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