Canes Corner

Brandon Bussi did it again! 23 saves plus 3 more in the shootout as the Hurricanes rallied to beat the Capitals, 3-2. Bussi stopped 20 shots in regulation -- including 3 by Alexander Ovechkin -- then three more in overtime as he becomes the first goaltender in NHL history to win 10 of his first 11 starts. He's also won 8 in a row, one shy of the Hurricanes record of 9 straight held by Cam Ward. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his 7th goal of the season, tying the game in the second period. Then the man they call "Fly" set up Logan Stankoven's game-tying goal late in the 3rd to help the Canes get the game into overtime. Seth Jarvis was the only scorer in the shootout as Bussi stopped all three Capitals shooters as the Canes moved back to the top of the division.

Halfway through the game -- an eventual 4-1 win over Columbus -- the Hurricanes looked like an extension of what we saw on Sunday against the Sharks.  But, then Andrei Svechnikov won a battle for the puck in the corner and created a goal for Seth Jarvis.  The rest was a Carolina domination.  Svechnikov would also assist on the Canes power play goal, a net front deflection by Jordan Staal.  Taylor Hall and Eric Robinson combined on a goal that gave them the lead. And, Brondon Bussi stopped 23 shots for his 9th win in 10 career starts.  Now, Rod Brind'Amour has a decision to make about who starts on Thursday in Washington.  

The Canes gave up the first goal, on the first shot, in the first 30 seconds and ended up losing to the Sharks, 4-1.  The loss spoiled the first half of the 2-game celebration of the 2006 Stanley Cup Champions' 20th anniversary.  Carolina did draw even on a Jordan Staal power play goal in the 1st, but that would be it.  Carolina's speed couldn't get inside enough against San Jose and they just didn't generate enough energy to play their type of game.  Pyotr Kochetkov did play well in his first start in three weeks, but he couldn't save his team from a 3rd loss during a 7-game home stand.  They'll take a 3-3-0 record to the finale against Columbus on Tuesday.

Brandon Bussi made 21 saves, Jackson Blake scored twice and the Canes scored a pair of power play goals in a 6-3 win over Nashville.  Bussi won for the 8th time in 9 starts.  And while there weren't a ton of shots, Bussi turned aside a handful of great scoring chances.  Carolina scored three 1st period goals.  Blake scored a highlight reel goal in the 2nd, and then he and Aho put the game away in the 3rd.  Now, if Pyotr Kochetkov can come back, Carolina might have so deep goaltending discussions.

Brandon Bussi stopped 15 shots for his first NHL shutout as the Canes beat Calgary, 1-0, in overtime for their second straight win.  Nikolaj Ehlers tapped home a feed from Taylor Hall 2:52 into overtime giving Carolina the win.  Bussi didn't have a lot of work, but what he had tested him.  Odd man chances that saw him stop Blake Coleman and Morgan Frost, plus three different breakaways.  He's now 7-1-0 in 8 starts this season -- the first starts of his NHL career.  Shayne Gostisbehere continues to play some of the best 2-way hockey of his career and it was a noticeably good night from Alexander Nikishin -- who could have scored 2 or 3 goals.

Seth Jarvis notched his 2nd career NHL hat trick and Brandon Bussi ran his record to 6-1-0 as the Hurricanes beat the Jets, 5-1, on Black Friday.  Jarvis started the scoring with his 13th goal of the season as the Canes took a 1-0 lead after the first period.  Then, after Jordan Martinook snapped a 1-1 tie with a 3rd period goal, Jarvis followed 47 seconds later with his second to extend the lead to 3-1.  Seth would backhand the puck into an empty net to put the game on ice.  Alexander Nikishin's 3rd goal of the year closed out the scoring.  Bussi only had to make 12 saves in the win, but about half of them were grade A chances for Winnipeg -- including a shorthanded breakaway try by Kyle Connor when the game was still 1-1 midway through the third.  Will Rod Brind'Amour got back to Bussi on Sunday?  Stay tuned.  Carolina played a third straight game without Jordan Staal (illness).

The Hurricanes dropped their second straight game -- first time all year that's happened -- in a 4-2 decision to the NY Rangers.  It was a game in which the Canes probably should have scored five times, but they only rang the bell twice.  Shayne Gostisbehere and Seth Jarvis tallied for Carolina, but despite out-chancing New York 15-3 over the last two periods, the Rangers scored three times and held the Canes at bay.  Frederik Andersen allowed 3 goals on 17 shots and lost for the 4th straight time.  Andersen has one win since October 23 and has allowed at least 3 goals in 11 of his 13 starts this season.  37 goalies have played in at least 10 games this season, and Freddie's .873 SV% is 33rd among them.  Carolina's power play scored for the 3rd straight game.

In the ongoing wings debate over Flats vs Drums, the Canes chose the former as they closed out the 4-game road trip with a 4-1 loss to Buffalo.  Jordan Staal was down with the flu, so the captain didn't play and his team missed his defense AND what he's meant to Carolina's offense.  Freddie Andersen played well, even though the stats might make it seem differently.  Andersen made several great saves and didn't allow a soft goal so maybe that's a sign that he's turning a rough season around.  Shayne Gostisbehere's 1st period power play goal was Carolina's only marker.  We'll also address the Andrei Svechnikov story from Elliott Friedman that has Andrei's representatives reportedly were open to a trade earlier in the season when Andrei was struggling and dropped lower in the lineup. 

The Canes beat the Jets 4-3 in Winnipeg behind 2 goals from Jordan Staal and a pair of big homecomings.  Staal scored 16 seconds into the game to give the Hurricanes the lead, then added his second 3:08 into the second period to get Carolina even at 2-2.  He now has 20 career goals (in 44 games) against the Jets.  The only team against which Staal had scored more is Philadelphia, but his 24 career goals came in 82 games.  Winnipeg native Seth Jarvis scored shorthanded for the second time this season and Nikolaj Ehlers -- who spent 10 seasons with the Jets -- set up Andrei Svechnikov's 3rd period power play goal that became the eventual game-winner.  Brandon Bussi got a surprise start in goal and stopped 24 shots in route to a 5th win in 6 starts for the Canes.

Jackson Blake scored twice, including the tying goal with 1:06 to play, but the Canes fall to the Wild, 4-3, in a shootout. Carolina dominated in almost every way except for in goal. Jesper Wallstedt was spectacular while Frederik Andersen couldn't come up with a big save when the Canes needed it. The Wild scored on a lucky bounce and two breakaways, so none of the goals were awful, but Andersen could have done better. Blake now has 6 goals and 15 points this season through 20 games. Sebastian Aho scored his 8th early in the 3rd to give Carolina hope. Andersen made 15 saves in the loss.