Canes Corner

Six weeks after the Canes acquired Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche they traded him to the Dallas Stars.  After 13 games featuring 2 goals, 6 points and one declined offer of an 8-yeaer contract extension Carolina decided to end their pursuit of the high-scoring forward and sent him to Dallas for Logan Stankoven and four draft picks.  How did we get here?  What does it mean?  Did Carolina get a sufficient reeturn?  

The Canes took advantage of three fortunate breaks and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 32 shots as they beat the Bruins, 3-2. Sebastian Aho scored shorthanded in the 1st period as he intercepted a poor pass from Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei. Brent Burns' 5th goal of the season - in the 2nd period - caromed off the stick of a Boston defender as the Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead early in the 2nd. And Seth Jarvis' game-winner with 18.6 seconds left came as the result of a failed clearing attempt as Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov's stick broke and the puck just drifted to Jarvis in the high slot. But, the star tonight was Kochetkov, who stopped Boston star David Pastrnak 7 times, including a second period breakaway. The win was Carolina's 3rd straight and it moved them 6 points ahead of New Jersey in the race for 2nd place in the Metro. 

Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal each scored as the Canes beat the Red Wings, 2-1, in Detroit. It was Carolina's 2nd straight win and their first on the road in 5 weeks. Frederik Andersen made 24 saves to snap a personal 4-game losing streak as the Canes saw their lead over the Devils increase to 4 points - with a game in hand - after New Jersey fell in Dallas. For the second straight game, the Hurricanes probably should have scored significantly more than the two goals they did. But, when you have Jaccob Slavin on your team, you can make it work. Carolina's star defenseman was the game's best player - again. 

The Canes beat the Flames, 2-1, in overtime as Sebastian Aho registered his 5th overtime game winning goal of the season.  The Hurricanes have five OT wins this season and all have come courtesy of their top centerman.  Jaccob Slavin and Jackson Blake each had 2 points on the night, Slavin's 6th goal of the year -- from Blake -- came with about 30 seconds left in the 2nd period and gave Carolina a 1-0 lead.  The pair each has assists on Aho's 23rd goal of the season.  Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 15 of 16 shots in the win, his second over the Flames this year.  On the down side, the Canes were 0 for 6 on the power play and have gone 5 for 65 with the man advantage since the calendar turned to 2025.  NOTE: Discussion on the Mikko Rantanen conundrum immediately after the second commercial break.

The Canes spotted the Oilers a 2-goal lead after 40 minutes -- just like they did in October in the 1st meeting -- but this time they couldn't get the second goal and lost, 3-1.  The Hurricanes went 1 for 4 on the power play, the first 3 of those coming in the 1st period.  On their first try, they allowed a shorthanded goal when Adam Henrique' was able to get to the front of the net and redirect the puck past Frederik Andersen.  Carolina did get a Sebastian Aho power play goal in the 3rd period to make the score 2-1.  But, they couldn't find their way to a second goal as Mikko Rantanen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jack Roslovic each had great chances to even the score.  Then, inside the final minute, Aho took a pass from Seth Jarvis and was in alone on Edmonton's Calvin Pickard, but his breakaway chance was denied by a great blocker side save and the Canes went on to lose for the 6th time in their last 8 games.  

Canes have a "whale" of a time in 5-2 win over Buffalo. 

The Canes lost their 2nd straight game, 4-0, in Montreal. Carolina fell behind 2-0 after the first period, then allowed power play goals in both the 2nd and 3rd periods in the loss. The Hurricanes are 3-5-1 since the acquisitions of Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall. They've scored just 22 goals in those 9 games and 7 of them came against Utah in the final game before the 4 Nations Face Off break. 

The Canes gave up three goals within the first 7 minutes of the first period and went on to loe, 6-3, to the Maple Leafs in Toronto.   In Carolina's first game coming after the 4 Nations Faceoff break they played like a team that hadn't seen each other in two weeks.  Poor decisions, worse puck management and a lack of precision added up to a 4-0 deficit after 20 minutes.  That the Canes scored three times in a 2:41 span of the 3rd period to give themselves a chance to steal something -- ANYTHING -- out of this game is a borderline miracle.  But, after Jaccob Slavin swept in a rebound to make it 4-3 with just under 5 minutes remaining, Mikko Rantanen passed up Carolina's last best chance to score passing into a crowded crease rather than shoot from the right face off circle.  In fairness, Rantanen, who did pick up an assist tonight for his 3rd point in 7 games with the Hurricanes, was probably Carolina's best forward tonight.  Shayne Gostisbehere scored his first goal since December 10 off a feed from Sebastian Aho for Carolina's first goal of the night.  Andrei Svechnikov and Slavin had the others.  Pyotr Kochetkov allowed 4 goals on 21 shots.

Iced Tea with Meghan Lamontagne is a new podcast from Capitol Broadcasting Company that goes behind the scenes on life with the Canes. From what players eat pre and post game, to their exact napping schedule on game days, guests "spill the tea" on life with the Hurricanes. Episode one is out now and features an exclusive interview with Hurricanes Hall of Fame goalie, Cam Ward. 

Follow the show now in your podcast app, or watch each episode on YouTube. Links to all the ways to watch and listen here.

Seth Jarvis had two goals and two assists as the Canes beat Utah, 7-3, in the final game before the Four Nations Face Off winter break.  Jarvis dominated the 2nd period, scoring once on the power play, creating the play for the first of two Sebastian Aho goals, and then feeding him for a shorthanded marker that made the score 4-2 late in the period.  Then, just before the end of the frame, he took a pass from Jackson Blake and beat Utah goalie Karol Vejmelka on a breakaway for a 5-2 lead.  Jarvis and Aho each were a +4 on the night.  Jalen Chatfield had a goal and an assist.  Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake each had two helpers.  Pyotr Kochetkov made 36 saves in the win.