Desperately needing a win to close out the year, the Hurricanes received exactly that.
The win also made for another fun holiday win for the home crowd. As much as the team has struggled over the past month, its track record in home ‘holiday’ games has actually been very good. The Canes were 2-0 in a pair of home games sandwiched around Thanksgiving, and at least managed a split in the two-game home set just before Christmas including a fun win on Whalers night. When the New Year’s Even win over the Flyers is included, the team is a solid 4-1 in home games or the holidays.
I dubbed Monday’s game and also the previous match up against the Devils as the ‘battle for the basement.’ With a loss on Monday, the Hurricanes would have entered 2019 in last place in the Metropolitan Division. The win instead boosts the team into a tie for seventh place with the Devils.
To be honest, the front part of the game was some combination of sluggish and sloppy and looked very much like two teams trying to play their way back into the 2018-19 season. Credit to the Hurricanes for getting the puck to the middle of the ice and shooting, but the Canes also benefited from a rookie goalie having a tough night. Credit also to the Hurricanes for recognizing issues warding off shots glove high and going back to that spot (with success) repeatedly.
First, Lucas Wallmark labeled a shot for the upper corner while using a Flyers defenseman as a screen. Then Jordan Martinook found his way through Hart’s glove hand and into the net. Then when Andrei Svechnikov fired a laser off of a heady Clark Bishop centering pass early in the second period, the Hurricanes had jumped out to a 3-0 lead and chased rookie goalie Carter Hart. The three goals would stand up behind yet another strong Canes goalie outing, this time courtesy of Curtis McElhinney. He would be beaten only once on the way to a 3-1 win.
More than anything, the Hurricanes needed and picked up a win.
Player and other notes
1) Curtis McElhinney
McElhinney continued the run of strong goalie play continuing to give the team two solid netminders right now. This situation where I can just write that goaltending was good again as if it is a regular and normal thing is bizarre after the team’s many years of struggles in net.
2) Jordan Martinook
He continues to be a great under the radar pick up. As a depth player, he is not a regular in the highlights, but he has done three things incredibly well now half of a season into his first with the Hurricanes. First and foremost, any and all indications are that he is a tremendous team mate. He has played a significant role in Andrei Svechnikov’s transition to the NHL and just generally exudes the team-first attitude that is critical to successful NHL cultures. Second, he has a great feel for the game and has on multiple occasions been one of the players to dial up the physicality when the team might have been fighting it a bit and needed some kind of boost. Finally, his scoring has been a pleasant surprise. His nine goals are impressive for a depth forward who has received virtually no power play ice time.
3) Andrei Svechnikov
Svechnikov’s goal which just flat beat the goalie into the corner of the net is the variety scored by snipers like Stamkos, Laine and others who have the rare ability to regularly beat goalies cleanly. This is the second time Svechnikov has labeled a shot for the corner of the net recently. His ability to finish in close is maybe not as advanced yet, but it is not difficult to see his ability starting to show up on the score sheet more regularly.
4) Lucas Wallmark
Wallmark has yet to really break out offensively, but he has impressively stepped into the ‘tough match up’ center role with Jordan Staal out with his injury. At a minimum, Wallmark has quickly established himself as a dependable two-way center who is not in over his head even against tough match ups. That by itself makes him a capable fourth-line center with the capability to fill in in higher slots. The burning question with Wallmark right now is whether he has a higher gear offensively. He scored at the AHL level, and advanced statistics suggest he could have more on the score sheet this year.
Next up for the Hurricanes is a rematch against the Flyers in Philadelphia on Thursday night.
Go Canes!
It was a nice win and a good atmosphere in the arena.
Depth scoring today – even Svech’s goal, given that was in the middle of a line change and the primary assist was Bishop.
If I was going to be critical, three times we took advantage of Hart’s weakness on gloveside high. And though we continued to own play – for the most part – we couldn’t get one past Neuvirth.
I liked that as soon as Giroux’s line went over the boards, so did Wallmark – and you heard nothing from Giroux’s line. Shutdown center with a wicked shot – have to like that in a rookie. Either Tripp or John said that Mac should have been the first star – Wallmark earned it with his two-way play against the best of the Flyers.
Passes were clean, entries were good – even our PP looked good (even if without results). Even Rask looked better centering Svech and Ferland.
And the bond between Svech and Martinook was mentioned in the post-game interviews, but watching Martinook and Svech during warmups – the value of Martinook as a mentor and friend to Svech cannot be overstated. That’s worth consideration in the contract extension talks which I hope are happening with Jordan.
Happy New Year caniacs!
It was good to see the team carry the puck into the O zone in the center of the ice, and or work it into the center with bodies moving toward the net. On both Martinook and Wallmark’s goals, the puck was carried into the zone in the center of the ice, with bodies moving towards the net, right down the royal road. Two goals. On the third goal, Bishop carried it in on the wing and passed to a streaking Svechnikov, who was moving right down the center of the ice towards the goal. Three goals.
HC RBA please take note, this is the opposite of grinding on the boards.
tj and asheville. Excellent points. Wallmark is playing good hockey, if he gets some puck luck, he will be a solid NHL center. The Canes have decisions about the UFA goaltenders and Ferland. But I think Martinook is likely to be the best value for the salary it will take to sign him.
Attacking the center of the ice will lead to good things. I am with asheville in that I hope RBA starts focusing on getting the team to carry the puck directly into the zone.
Happy 2019 all.
In other news, PDG was placed on waivers and claimed by Nsh. Hopefully good for him and for the Canes, the team was a bit overstocked with responsible two-way players, so I think this is a sensible move.
I think Kuok needs to go back down to Clt (too slow, just not NHL ready), maybe give Gauthier a tryout instead, or Poturalski.
Good game. Martinook is one of the best signings the team made over the summer. Give the man some money and get him signed.
Happy 2019 y’all!