After consecutive wins against the struggling Philadelphia Flyers, the Hurricanes faced a tougher test on Friday night playing a back-to-back against a good Columbus Blue Jackets team.
Per my the first point in my game preview, the Hurricanes started strong for the first time in a few games. Justin Williams had a steal and a scoring chance on the first shift, and the Canes surged from there. Williams with Lucas Wallmark and Victor Rask had a couple good shifts and scoring chances after Williams’ first chance. Warren Foegele beat All-Star Seth Jones cleanly for a good scoring chance and drew a penalty along the way. After the early flurry of chances and great saves by Sergei Bobrovsky and a post by Brock McGinn, the Hurricanes finally broke through when Sebastian Aho fed Micheal Ferland for a quick release and a goal that was more or less a power play goal despite coming a split second after it ended. Then a heady play by call up Greg McKegg led to Dougie Hamilton’s second goal in as many games. McKegg pushed over the offensive blue line with speed which made some space. Then he fed Hamilton behind him. Last, he cut across in front of Hamilton who fired through the set of bodies and beat Bobrovsky off his glove when he was a bit slow reacting likely because of the traffic in front of him. Curtis McElhinney was not tested as much as Bobrovsky, but he stood tall when needed to get the Canes into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.
The Hurricanes scored again in the second period on a pretty pass and finish when Greg McKegg cut a path straight to the net coming off the bench on a line change and was hit in stride by a Brett Pesce pass that he deflected into the net. The game seemed to be on track for a comfortable win. Then John Tortorella pulled Bobrovsky, shuffled lines and seemed to light a fire under Artemi Panarin. The result was a Blue Jackets surge and two goals in short order late in the second period. The Hurricanes then spent the tail end of the second period under siege but managed to escape the second period with a 3-2 lead.
The third period saw Columbus push again early largely courtesy of Panarin. McElhinney was strong early and the Hurricanes seemed to at least untilt the ice as the period wore on and at least counter-punch. But the story of the third period was the Canes netminding this time courtesy of McElhinney. He posted a perfect third period despite Columbus pressing for a tying goal. Aho added an last second empty-netter to top off a big victory.
Player and other notes
1) Sebastian Aho
The game was not huge compared to some of his recent scoring outbursts, but his pretty pass right in Ferland’s wheel house was instrumental in making sure the Hurricanes were rewarded for their strong start. So riding Aho was the second point in the preview.
2) Depth scoring from Greg McKegg
And finally, the third point in my preview looked for depth scoring past Aho. That was provided first and foremost by Greg McKegg who had the the heady pass and screen on Hamilton’s goal and then followed up with a goal of his own. McKegg had another grade A chance stopped by Korpisalo in the second period bidding for his second goal. In addition, Hamilton provided a goal from the blue line for the second straight night. Couple that with the regular strong goaltending and decent or better defense, and the result is a 3-2 win.
3) Curtis McElhinney
Yet again, the Canes goaltending was a strength. McElhinney outplayed Bobrovsky who he was a backup to a few years ago. He was easily the team’s best player in the third period when the team was clinging to a 3-2 lead.
4) Strong play by a number of depth players
Though not all were rewarded on the score sheet, I though the Canes depth forwards had a strong game. McKegg has the headliner, but I thought all of Wallmark, Rask, Williams, Svechnikov and Maenalanen had strong outings.
5) Hamilton rising?
On Thursday, Hamilton had a big goal, but his play was a mixed bag overall with a couple minor penalties and a handful of lackadaisical plays with the puck. He scored again on Friday and was also better defensively. I have been beating the drum for a few games now that his physical engagement and desire to shoot the puck a ton could be a harbinger of better play on the way. I think Friday was a step in that direction, and the scoring should do wonders for his confidence and mojo.
6) Jaccob Slavin
Leading a defense that was generally solid again, Jaccob Slavin was arguably the best of the group. He logged a big 25:10 of ice time and made a number of good stick plays defending players off the rush.
Next up for the Hurricanes is an early 1pm start in Ottawa on Sunday that will make for three games in less than four days.
Go Canes!
Two fun games, with 9 goals for the good guys in two nights.
Before the Thursday game dmilleravid hoped for good zone entries and a powerplay goal, and we got both. The canes are back to carrying the puck into the zone to create grade A chances.
Just as interesting, the canes where creating chances off of the dump and grind on both nights. It was most notable with the fourth line – they would dig the pucks out of the boards and work it to the center of the ice for high danger chances.
If we consistently play a style where four or five goals are a possibility every night, we are in for a treat.
The last two games have looked much more like the first five of the season. As asheville has pointed out, the Canes score the way most teams in the NHL score–by attacking using movement and passing to get quality shots from the middle of the ice. All three goals last night were some variation of attacking on the Royal Road. Even when Aho circles the outside of the ice and goes behind the net, the opportunity to score is created between the circles. If the Canes can keep this up, they should be able to net goals even against goalies as formidable as Bobrovsky,
The other thing I have noticed the last two game is that while the offense is led by Aho and Williams looks to be doing more captain-like things, the tenor for the entire game is set by Martinook and Foegele on their early shifts. When those two and the rest of the team use speed and physicality to forecheck, the Canes dictate how the opposing teams play. That is why Simmonds was more focused on Martinook than playing hockey Thursday and how they were able to rattle Bobrovsky last night. We all understand that the Canes don’t have the scoring talent of Pittsburgh, Toronto, or Tampa. But they do have four lines that can play at a high pace.
I don’t remember if I read it hear or at another blog, but McGinn looks more dangerous with Aho and TT–then again who wouldn’t. He is not a true first-liner, but he isn’t as unproductive as he has been thus far.
Finally, McKegg had a two point night. He actually is less talented than Kuokkanen and Roy. But he has more than 90 NHL games. I only bring this up because some have been disappointed that Kuokkanen didn’t get on the score sheet. I am pretty sure he will, in fact he may even be one of the keys to forming a second scoring line. But being effective in the NHL takes some time. All the success that Charlotte is having will lead to one or two players being successful in the NHL. For now, McKegg and Bishop should be allowed to keep playing in Raleigh.
The 4th line was fun to watch, big, fast, gritty, grindy, like a great 4th line.
Maybe this is a recipe for a new line, though one game is way too little a sample to be reliable, but these guys could provide an extremely affordable effective line for the next couple of years if they keep it up.
I agree JK’s audition in Raleigh wasn’t good but by no means does it mean he won’t be successful, needs to go own to Clt, to the AHL all star game and benefit from the experience.
It was a good game, but in the big picture I think it’s already too little, too late for the season.
8 points out of both the third in the metro and the wildcard is a significant deficit, even at the halfway point.
But one game at a time. Question is, can the Canes keep rolling, not take the foot of the gas and take what is, on paper at least, a winible game in Ott.
Similar to Thursday in PHL, we got the lead, extended it, faltered a bit, and then hung on to win in regulation. I like it.
Dougie is heating up. I like that. The defense has continued to be stout. The goaltending keeps rolling along. Only giving up two goals is a formula for beating almost any team, home or away.
Wallmark hasn’t been scoring much but I’ve been very impressed by his ability to neutralize the other team’s best Centers. Reminds me of someone else who’s been missing from the lineup recently.
The PK rolls on and the PP seems to have bounced off the bottom.
Maybe this is the start of the Big Run we haven’t seen since the Dec-Feb period of ’16-17 led by the Staal-Nesty-Nordy line. One can only hope, breezy.
Everyone above has been right on the mark with their comments. I’m going to have to get in a little earlier I can see to keep up with this group. Best things in the game for me were:
1. Hamilton appearing to be getting his offensive gam going.
2. Defense playing a strong game throughout.
3. McElhenney keeping up the excellent work.
4. The team playing like a team with good chemistry on all lines and defensive pairings.
5. The great crowd. Another good fan turnout on a lousy rainy night.
6. The atmosphere in the rink and the celebration after the game which makes me and the wife feel like part of the team and the victory.
Greg who? Wow!
Did anyone notice how unique his approach to the offensive zone was? He didn’t just dump it in. He didn’t stay in his lane, cross the line and stop predictably. Then look for a teammate to pass to, finding himself surrounded by enemy players.
Instead he brought the puck to the middle, then turned on the afterburners and skated into the zone on a diagonal forcing the surprised d to chase him and try to jam his shooting lane. Provided by the d with an ample screen of their own goalkeeper, Kegger fails again to do the predictable. Instead of shooting point blank into a bunch of legs, he provides a perfect drop pass to Dougie. I am certain that Dougie was almost as surprised as was the enemy d. But the key here was “almost”. Since this was obviously a prepared play, Dougie was expecting the pass. What he wasn’t expecting, was the space he had to shoot. He also wasn’t expecting a surprised and totally screened goalkeeper.
I am sure that Dougie and Kegger got together in the locker room before the game and devised this plan. Right?
Or maybe Roddy had them working on this play for weeks. Maybe he knew that all enemy teams would be expecting same ole same ole from our guys. Maybe, now that he has our guys working together, trusting each other, he has other surprises in store for those other coaches who are soooooo much more experienced and soooooo smarter.
Go Canes! Go Roddy!
Our guys are developing their own personality. In 2005-06 the boys would often find themselves down by two goals. As a fan, I would say to myself that the boys would come back to win. And they usually did.
I like this one better. Build up a lead, let the enemy almost catch up, and then pull away.
Neither scenario is contrived, obviously. But it is predictable. I love it.
It was a quality win against a quality opponent – nice to see at a number of levels.
CBJ was clearly rusty (Forslund’s term) at the start after 4 days off while we were still in game mode. You could tell when the Canes’ legs got tired at the same time that CBJ got it’s timing back – with some changes directed by Torts. We were able to hang on with some great goaltending, in large part.
I always love to see a player make his mark in his first call-up. Interestingly McKegg only played about 10 minutes. He knows he is only up on an emergency callup and will have to go back when Bishop is ready to play – or we have to decide to keep him on NHL ice – that will be a tough call to make when that time comes.
Hats off for Curtis McElhinney. So far one of the best waiver pick-ups in NHL history. 9-5-1 with a .923 SVP and 2.20 GAA. Toronto is kicking themselves right now.
If we continue to surge I’d like to think we would be buyers instead of sellers at the trade deadline. We’re relatively healthy, we have youth on our side, very good goalie tandem, solid D – playoffs can still happen.
This is why our first choice is to keep Mac for another year or two. If not I’m sure Tor will want him back badly, probably badly enough to offer us some pretty decent trade for Mac and an RHD.
The case for trading Staal (if he wants to be traded and with a suitable return) keeps getting stronger with the emergence of the young centermen.
Walmark does a great job neutralizing the oppositions top lines.
I think the Canes may have to sit Rask and let a healthy Bishop and Keg play center if Rask is unable to pick up the pace (there were some promising signs in yesterday’s game which is encouraging), good problem to have.
The Canes are still a solid 4 to 8 run of Ws away from even a slim chance of going to the playoffs, so it’s too early to think about it in my opinion.
They won 3 of 13 in December and it is almost impossible to recover from a month like that in the NHL.
But one game at a time, if the Canes can somehow manage to win 7 out of the next 10 there’s a chance, but it’s going to be difficult.