After a disappointing 3-0 home loss to Nashville on Friday, a road match up against high-powered Tampa Bay on Saturday looked ominous.
But as has often been the case with this team since the start of 2019, the team again responded with its back against the wall a bit.
The front part of the first period had a good pace to it especially considering both teams played last night. The Hurricanes struck first when an Andrei Svechnikov power play shot trickled through goalie Curtis McElhinney. Sebastian Aho raked it in from within inches of the goal line to put the Canes up 1-0. Then only a couple minutes later, a heady stretch pass from Jaccob Slavin found Clark Bishop who managed to get a pass through Victor Hedman to a streaking Jordan Martinook who finished to put the Canes up 2-0. Then seemingly headed to the locker room with a 2-0 lead, the Hurricanes tallied again when a reversal at the tail end of the period saw Sebastian Aho shooting from the point and Jaccob Slavin in front of the net for a nifty tip goal to put the Hurricanes up 3-0 with only seven seconds remaining in the period.
The Hurricanes would play with fire but survive when Brock McGinn and Clark Bishop took penalties early in the second period to give the Lightning two power play chances. But James Reimer continued his strong play as the last line of defense, and the Hurricanes survived both of the penalty kills. From there, the rest of the second period was pretty evenly played. There were chances for and against, but both goalies stood tall, and the second period ended with the same 3-0 score as the first period.
The start of the third period again saw the Hurricanes play with fire with Jake Gardiner and Joel Edmundson taking early penalties. This time the Lightning capitalized on the opening when Brayden Point scored on the power play only 3:26 into the third period. When Tyler Johnson added a second goal 8:50 into the third period, a white knuckler was officially launched. The Hurricanes mostly just held on for dear life with the Lightning posting a 15-2 shot advantage and James Reimer helping the Canes hold on for a 3-2 win.
The game was reminiscent of the Hurricanes October win over Florida when the Hurricanes scored early and then too much required on Reimer to make that lead hold up. The game was also a bit similar to the win over the Blackhawks that saw the Hurricanes play well and hold a lead into the third period. Just like this game, the Hurricanes did a number of things well but then also had to rely a bit too much on just holding on for dear life at the end.
Player and other notes
1) James Reimer
Reimer’s top line numbers are not overly impressive, but he has done has done his part as a backup to help the Hurricanes collect points in some of the season’s tougher games. Reimer is now a respectable 5-4-0, and I think his level of play in total has been better than that. With three straight wins and strong performances in each, it will be interesting to see if Brind’Amour gives Reimer a chance to go on a run.
2) Slavin/Hamilton
The Canes defense in total had a good night. Slavin/Hamilton had a solid night a good night against a high-powered offense and chipped in a goal and three assists to boot.
3) Clark Bishop
His role is a minor one, and evidence suggests his offense is limited, but I like what he brings to the lineup. He had a pretty assist on Martinook’s goal, a good scoring chance for himself and was also involved in the play where Foegele somehow shot over an empty net. All in all, he had another solid night in a depth role. Bishop’s partner in crime, Jordan Martinook, also had another good night playing a rugged game and finally being rewarded with his first goal of the season.
4) Sebastian Aho
Hockey can be a strange game. Some games a player makes multiple spectacular plays but is not rewarded on the score sheet. Other nights just making good small plays and being in the right place at the right time is enough. Hanging out at the top of the crease was enough to net him a goal from two inches out. And then he netted an assist by just getting a puck to the front of the net from where Slavin finished.
5) The penalty kill
The penalty kill did give up a power play goal against on six shorthanded sequences. That is not perfect obviously, but I still thought the penalty kill was a positive helping the team dodge bullets with multiple penalties to start the second and third periods.
Next up is another road match up against a marquee team in the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Go Canes!
It’s remarkable how recent games have been pretty much decided in the first period.
Either the Canes come out guns blazing, build a lead and then hold on for dear life or they come out flat, surrender multiple goals quickly and are unable to catch up.
It all comes down to the inability to play 60 minutes.
Also evident is the lack of killer instinct. Yesterday the Canes were very close to neeting a 4th goal but instead started the penalty box parade to give the Lightning’s forward troops (who are among the best in the league) every opportunity to even the score, only Reimer’s heroics kept them in it.
In recent games Reimer has clearly played better than his statistics indicate and appears to have the hot hand, Mrazek has not been terrible but not been difference making good either.
John and Trip tried to talk up Garnner on the telecast yesterday but the best they could say about him is that he was the only d man not being penalized.
The team should’ve come out with 12 forwards and sat Gardner, the 11/7 team does not look good (I think this is the first W they have with this setup, maybe the second).
All in all rsults matter! Thumbs up for a gutsy effort yesterday that netted a win against one of the top teams.
But if this team is to make the playoffs they have to pay mor attention to detail, take fewer unnecessary penalties, and play 60 minutes, or at least 50 or 55 minutes, not 40.
I’m still very concerned that the team could be headed for a bit of a slide with the upcoming opponents.
At least we’re not Detroit or the Canadiens (with focus increasingly on the future), this team is on the cusp of greatness, but we’re not the Bruins or the Caps, this team is a bubble team, the rollercoaster ride will continue.
I could not agree more breezy. You said everything I was thinking. I think it will be a rollercoaster. I am sure RBA is preaching 60 min, but we are just not consistent. Reimer played well (saved our bacon). Mrazek is hot and cold.
I have a sneaking suspicion a deal is imminent. Trades don’t just happen and they certainly do not fix everything, but we have been missing a piece in the top 6 (and I do not think that is Williams). If I’m Donnie Waddell I’m scouting the lower tier teams to snag a viable forward with size and skill. DET, ANA, LA and a few other teams have those types of pesky players we could utilize.
Our defense is not the problem, right now at least. It could be in the playoffs, which is why I do not write off adding a veteran defenseman. But even that I do not think happens until deadline, and may depend on Gardiner’s play next month or so.
They went 11-7 because Necas was a late scratch. They would need to keep a 13th forward for these emergencies but that would cost money.
It would be great to get a Ferland type forward(one that can stay healthy) but having Marleau’s Cap hit makes that difficult.
DeHaan > Gardiner, just saying.
Today is Jesse P decision day as far as the NHL this year.
Oh duh. I missed the first half of the game (and apparently the more fun half if you are a Canes fan). I didn’t pick up on that. That makes sense.
I don’t see much of a chance that the Canes will do much dealing due to the cap constraints.
The only type player they could add is a player on an expiring entry level contract, like AA from Detroit (who would be a pretty good add I think), but that would come at a cost.
I suspect Tayler Hall will be traded to Pit for the playoff run, I think he’s done in New Jersey, but I don’t see him wanting to be a Hurricane.
The current roster is not bad but has more to give. our coaching staff ain’t half bad, so I hold on to hope that they figure it out.