Canes Corner

The Canes clinched a playoff spot for the 7th straight year beating the Washington Capitals, 5-1. Carolina scored 3 power play goals, two from Jackson Blake and another by Seth Jarvis. Sean Walker and Logan Stankoven added the other goals. Frederik Andersen continues to play well as he's won 7 straight games, allowing 7 straight games, allowing just 10 goals and compiling a .940 SV%. The only downside to tonight's game was the loss of Andrei Svechnikov, who left with an upper body injury in the 2nd period. The game featured 142 penalty minutes and each team was awarded 4, 10-minute misconduct penalties. Should be a blast at Washington next Thursday. Alex Ovechkin scored his 39th goal of the season - the 892nd of his career - in the 2nd period. That moves him just two goals behind Wayne Gretzky for 1st on the all time list. 

It wasn't how Rod Brind'Amour would draw it up, but the Canes beat the Islanders, 6-4, in a game that had everything.  Mark Jankowski and Logan Stankoven scored 13 seconds apart early in the 1st period to put Carolina up 2-0.  But, from there it was a goalie gong show for both teams.  Seth Jarvis scored twice.  Sebastian Aho had a goal and two assists. Dimitri Orlov had the GWG.  The magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 2.  

Taylor Hall and Frederik Andersen paced the Hurricanes to a bounce-back, 4-1 win over Montreal on Friday night. Hall's 4th power play goal in the last 6 games put the Hurricanes in front to stay and Jackson Blake posted a 3-point night, the first of his NHL career. Blake's goal, which caromed in off of two different Montreal skates, and evened the score immediately after Josh Anderson gave the Habs the lead inside of the first 30 seconds. Andrei Svechnikov returned after missing the last 7 games and had a physical impact in the game and then added an empty net goal for the final marker. In this episode, after a few opening thoughts, we do a Q and A. We're back, full on, this Sunday following the game with the Islanders. 

The Canes did everything BUT SCORE in their 3-1 loss to Nashville.  Juuse Saros made 34 saves to keep the Hurricanes from their 2nd straight win.  Taylor Hall's 2nd period power play goal was the only marker for Carolina.  Hall has scored the Canes' last 4 goals and has 3 power play goals in the last 5 games.  In this episode, we get into the many scoring chances created and why that's a positive not a negative in spite of the result of the game.  Then we get into Carolina's goaltending tonight which wasn't nearly good enough on the part of Pyotr Kochetkov.   

Taylor Hall had a 3rd period hat trick and Frederik Andersen's 35 saves boosted the Canes to a 5-2 win over the Ducks in Anaheim.  Carolina closes out their 4-game road trip with a 3-1-0 record and moves 10 points from wrapping up a playoff spot.  Hall's 3 goals added to goals from Mark Jankowski -- yeah, it's wild that he keeps scoring -- and Jordan Martinook as the new editions continue to pile up points.  In this edition, we talk about Andersen's exploits and what it means for the Canes playoff future, the new guys and why they're better than whatshisname that was shipped off to Dallas, and what was the key to the win over the Ducks.  

The Canes' 8 game winning streak is over.  They got blown out in L-A, 7-2.  The game was over after falling behind 3-0 in the first period.  Then the Kings scored 3 times in a 2:43 span of the early part of the 2nd.  Dimitry Orlov and Mark Jankowski scored for Carolina.  For Jankowski, it was his 5th goal since coming over from Nashville at the trade deadline.  For reference, Mikko Rantanen has played 20 games since leaving Colorado and he's scored just 4 goals (2 each with the Canes and Stars).  In this episode we talk about the loss (briefly), then talk about the 8-game winning streak and we look ahead to the playoffs and which players might have to sit when the Hurricanes are fully healthy.

Frederik Andersen stopped 25 shots, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho and Sean Walker all scored, and the Hurricanes beat San Jose, 3-1. The Canes are now 8 points clear of the Devils for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Topics covered in this episode include Carolina's stellar goaltending of late - from both Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. I also get into the play from the blue line, specifically Alternate Captain America, Jaccob Slavin. But the offense was driven by the Canes top line as Sebastian Aho, Jackson Blake and Seth Jarvis were all over the game. 

Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves for his 2nd shutout of the season, and Mark Jankowski scored twice as the Canes iced the Flyers, 5-0, in Philadelphia.  It was Carolina's 7th straight win and helped them open up an 8-point lead over New Jersey for the 2nd spot in the Metropolitan division standings.  Sebastian Aho opened the scoring in the 1st period pouncing on a loose puck for his 25th goal of the season.  Jankowski's first of 2 goals tonight came with just over 4 minutes left in the opening period and came off a great feed from Eric Robinson.  Jankowski would make it 4-0 in the 2nd period -- also thanks to an incredible chip pass from Robinson -- making it the second time since being acquired last Friday that he's scored twice in a game.  Taylor Hall scored a power play goal and Scott Morrow closed out the scoring with his first career NHL goal.  So, if you're scoring at home.  The Canes scored 5 times, including a power play goal, AND they won a goaltender interference challenge.  It's a sign!  

Seth Jarvis scored shorthanded and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 23 shots as the Canes beat the Lightning, 4-1.  Carolina has won 5 straight games -- the longest winning streak since Carolina won 8 in a row back in November.  Kochetkov has won 4 straight starts, Jarvis has scored in 3 straight games, Jack Roslovic scored his 20th goal of the season, Jordan Martinook notched his 12th and Sean Walker scored a goal for the first time in more than 3 months.  Walker had gone 41 games without a goal.  Carolina improves to 39-22-4 on the season and their 82 points are currently 3rd best in the Eastern Conference.

The new Canes beat the old Jets, 4-2, at Lenovo Center on Sunday night.  After the roster was shaken up for a second time this season, Carolina saw the two new editions provide the first three goals of the game.  Mark Jankowski, acquired from Nashville for a late round draft pick, scored twice and Logan Stankoven, the player Carolina got back in the Mikko Rantanen deal, provided the third.  Stankoven's 10th of the season came on the power play (shocked face emoji) early in the 3rd period.  Seth Jarvis added an empty net goal.  Frederik Andersen was great, stopping 20 shots, but making several big saves at crucial times, especially late in both the first and second periods.  The Canes have now won 4 straight for the second time since the new year.