-Gabriel Dorris-

The Recap

The Overview

The Carolina Hurricanes looked overwhelmed for much of the first period, and they were facing an Avalanche team that thus far has looked much better than them. Pyotr Kochetkov had some huge first period stops though, and eventually this allowed the Canes to break through. Carolina, who is 2nd in the NHL for goals scored, were able to pot yet another one 16 minutes into the period. Stefan Noesen, who has 6 points in 6 games for the team, dished a pass to KK in front of the net, and he was able to finish it and give the Canes a one-nothing lead in the opening frame. However, this lead would not last, and the Avalanche would strike on the powerplay with just 4 seconds left in the period. A Nathan Mackinnon shot bounced off the foot of Ryan Johansen and into Kochetkov’s net to tie the game heading into the second.

Nearly immediately in the second, the Canes would get a powerplay. Wonderful! The unit has been strong this year, at 26.7% through 6 games; and there was a goal on the powerplay! Shorthanded, for the Avs… Logan O’Connor took a pass, turned on the jets, and completely scorched Tony DeAngelo for a breakaway, where he went forehand, backhand, and through the 5-hole. However, the Canes had an answer. On another powerplay chance, Brent Burns took a pass from Dmitry Orlov and wristed the puck home on the short side of Georgiev. About a minute after that, the Canes struck again, as Bunting picked up the loose change from a Necas shot and deposited it into the net to give Carolina a 3-2 lead. But from there, it was all down hill. The Avalanche would score 4 more goals in the second, but Kochetkov wasn’t pulled because he wasn’t really to blame. Three of Colorado’s goals were due to a man being left wide open in front of the net. The Canes, up 3-2 halfway through the second, would leave it down 6-2.

The third period consisted of very little offense for both sides, although the Canes would score the only goal of the frame. After playing a very mediocre 12 minutes down by a trio, Jaccob Slavin would score an essentially pointless goal to get the Canes within 2, and that would wind up being the last marker in a 6-4 Avalanche victory.

The Postgame

The Hurricanes had a really solid start to this game, playing the style we all know, but halfway through the second they went straight back to the no-defense play we’ve seen this year so far. Guys constantly left alone in front of the net, too many penalties (they took five and gave up a goal on four, while also giving up a shorthanded goal), and all around sloppy play. With Sebastian Aho, Frederick Andersen, Brett Pesce, and Andrei Svechnikov all being out, that was a big blow to the penalty kill and powerplay units, but that still doesn’t make a 1-5 PK acceptable. Kochetkov may have given up 6 goals, but he was not the problem.

In the post game interviews, Stefan Noesen expressed disappointment in the special teams, but hope that things would snap into place. Jordan Martinook similarly seemed happy with the team’s 5v5 play but noted the penalty kill as the biggest area for improvement. Rod Brind’amour said some similar things. He said that he liked the team’s start, but that they gave up too much and everything they gave up ended in the back of the net. He called the penalty kill “atrocious”, and said that “[The Canes] need to get 20 guys on the same page.” He also expressed that when that does happen, he thinks we’ll see some big improvements.

In order, my three stars (Canes players only) would be Stefan Noesen (***), who had 2 nice assists and is showing absolute tons of chemistry with KK, Jaccob Slavin (**), who added a goal and an assist to take the lead as the NHL’s leading defenseman in points while also posting a +1 in a loss, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi (*), who has 7 points in 6 games for the Canes, two from this outing, and has looked great this season in all three zones.

The Preview

The Overview

Tonight at 7PM EST, the Canes hope to strike gold in their 7th game of the season and first against Tampa. The Canes are 3-3-0, giving them a disappointing .500 point percentage, but the Lightning have also had an underwhelming starting, 2-2-2 so far. Jonas Johansson is the projected starter in net for Tampa, and has posted a .902 save percentage and a 3.58 GAA in 5 games. The Canes could once again start any three of their goaltenders, although Kochetkov getting it seems unlikely, as he played last game against Colorado. Still, he has a .818 save percentage and a 5.18 GAA in two games. Antti Raanta has a has a .818 save percentage and a 4.41 GAA in three games, and Freddie, who may play his first game since being injured against has a .855 save percentage and a 4.14 GAA in three starts. The Canes need to win or at least tie the special teams battle against Tampa to win, as Carolina has a horrific 67.9% penalty kill rate this season, against a Tampa team that is 35% on the powerplay. This is especially worrisome considering that the Canes have taken 36 penalties this year, second only to the Montreal Canadeins.

Players to Watch

If Sebastian Aho returns, how big of a difference he can make for the PK and the team as a whole right away will play a big part of whether or not the Canes take this game. The same applies for Frederick Andersen, if he plays. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has 7 points in 6 games, and has shown immense chemistry with Stefan Noesen, who has 6 points in the same period. If this continues, Teuvo Teravainen might have a hard time keeping a spot in the top 6 when Andrei Svechnikov returns (which might happen this week!) Jaccob Slavin has also been killing it in both ends, and this could very well be his year to win the Norris if he continues.

Prediction

The Canes and Lightning have both had disappointing starts to the year, and based on how each team has looked the past few games, special teams is likely to be the difference maker tonight. Both teams have had two full days of rest, and I think whether or not Sebastian Aho makes his return will be the difference tonight. The call up of Dylan Coghlan earlier today may point to a likely return, as if Aho was not good to go the Canes would’ve been more likely to bring up a forward.

Prediction: 4-3 Canes

Record: 4 (correct winner) – 2 (incorrect winner) – 0 (predicted OT/shootout loss and lost in regulation, or vice versa.)