There’s no dancing around this: the Canes played three consecutive periods of lackluster hockey that saw them get totally throttled by the much bigger Winnipeg Jets 8-1. Only three skaters on the Jets did not have a point, which is amazing seeing how every line and how balanced their scoring was.
Since the calendar turned to 2019, the St. Louis Blues have been the hottest team in the NHL with the Canes #2. The Canes home record was identical to the Blues away record at 17-10-4 so that changes as the Canes came from behind pulling out a resounding 5-2 win.
It was Justin Williams’ showcase night with the Canes playing the L. A. Kings, the other team Willie won the Stanley Cup with. In fact, he won two Cups with the Kings. Willie has the respect of every player throughout the NHL and the Canes came out dominating the early play getting off four shots in the first four minutes before the Kings got one on Petr Mrazek.
The opportunity was there, playing a team far below them in the standings and no chance to make the playoffs, but the Canes couldn’t figure out how to get more than one past future Hall of Famer, Henrik Lundqvist. The King was on his game and not acting like a 36-year-old goalie should act. He was athletic, agile, sharp with the blocker, good with the catching glove and rarely gave up a rebound.
The Carolina Hurricanes now see themselves in a playoff spot as they play an exciting series of games in 2019. Just this past weekend, the Canes got two big wins, including one against the Edmonton Oilers and one of the best hockey players in the game right now, Connor McDavid.
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.
The Canes played two of their most lackluster games of the season back to back. First the Rangers thumped the Canes in NY, 6-2. The Ottawa game had everything going for them, including the Canes unbeaten in regulation streak while in their sharp looking black sweaters, but the Senators prevailed, 4-1.
The Carolina Hurricanes won both their matches this weekend, including one game where the Canes won with a hat trick.
2019 could not have started better for the Canes with two wins – Thursday night’s 5-3 win in Philly followed by a complete team win against a strong Columbus Blue Jacket team 4-2 Friday night at the PNC Arena in front of another good crowd. Call up Greg McKegg playing his first game for the Canes led the way with a goal and an assist making the most of the game low 10:17 of ice time.
The Carolina Hurricanes put 2018 in the rear view mirror with a much need win, a 3-1 decision over the Philadelphia Flyers in front of a great crowd New Year’s Eve. The Canes have been in a funk in a big way over the past month, with this just their fourth win in December. Their biggest problem continues to be scoring while the goalkeeping has been excellent.