Canes Corner

The Hurricanes saw their 5-game winning streak come to an end as they fell to the Seattle Kraken, 2-1.  The Kraken scored both of their goals in the 1st half of the second period as a couple of breakdowns led to grade A scoring chances.  Nikolaj Ehlers got the Canes on the board late in the 2nd period, pouncing on a loose puck and ringing the bell for the 16th time this season to make it a 1-goal game heading into the 3rd.  But, Carolina just couldn't generate enough from their 36 shots on goal and 83 (!!!) total shot attempts and the game fizzled out at the end.  Frederik Andersen started his second consecutive game for the first time since before Thanksgiving, but wasn't able to stack back-to-back strong performances in losing.  It snaps his personal 6-game point streak.

The Carolina Hurricanes took down the Detroit Red Wings, 5-2, as Taylor Hall and Shayne Gostisbehere each had a goal and two assists and Frederik Andersen made 27 saves.  It was the 5th straight win for the Canes -- which ties a season high.  Carolina is also on a 12-game point streak (10-0-2) and, as a result, moved ahead of Tampa Bay into the top spot in the East with 82 points.  Andersen is 3-0-3 in his last 6 starts, Jackson Blake added a goal and an assist and Sebastian Aho's power play goal gave him 5 goals in his last 6 games.

The Hurricanes got off to a flying start, lost a 3-goal lead, but buttoned up the 3rd period in a 5-4 win over the Lightning.  It starts the final 25 game stretch on a great note for Carolina, who maintains their 8-point lead over Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division.  The Logan Stankoven line was on fire in the first period, scoring twice and tying the Lightning in knots.  But, Carolina was a bit of a defensive mess -- and if we're being honest, a bit fortunate to not be trailing in the game -- and it wasn't until Sebastian Aho's 3rd period power play goal that they assumed control over the game.  Jaccob Slavin and K'Andre Miller were stellar in the 3rd period and Brandon Bussi saved his best for the 3rd as the Canes pull even with the Bolts on 80 points for the East's top seed.  It was Bussi's 24th win of the season.

The Canes and goaltender Brandon Bussi agree on a 3-year contract extension.  We discuss that, the roster work still to do before the trade deadline and the incredible Olympic hockey quarterfinals.  Oh, and I also spent about 15 minutes on the phone with The Bus himself.  Enjoy!

Brandon Bussi made 16 saves, Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal scored goals and the Canes extended their points streak to 10 straight in a 2-0 win at Madison Square Garden.  Andrei scored at 6:26 of the first period coming right off the bench to corral a loose puck at the blue line and beat Jonathan Quick for his 21st goal of the season.  Svech has 9 goals in his last 10 games.  Staal's 15th of the season, into an empty net, was his 5th in the last 7 games.  Nikolaj Ehlers' great defensive play to take the puck away from Vincent Trocheck created the chance and the Canes head into the Olympic Break with an 8 point lead over the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division.

Jordan Staal's game-winning goal, with just more than 5 minutes to play helped the Canes to a 4-3 win over Ottawa as they extend their points streak to 9 straight games (7-0-2).  Staal's 14th of the season was the 8th time that Staal has given Carolina the lead with a goal.  Seth Jarvis scored twice, Sebastian Aho added a goal and 2 assists, and Brandon Bussi won for the 22nd time in 26 NHL starts.  It was another game in which the Hurricanes weren't necessarily the better team, though Carolina definitely played well and with a lot of energy.  The Canes have just one more game -- Thursday at Madison Square Garden -- before the Olympic break.

Sebastian Aho's overtime goal, 1:25 into the 3-on-3 session, gave the Canes a 3-2 win over the Kings, extending their points streak to 8 straight games (6-0-2).  One night after leading 3-0 only to lose in overtime, Carolina led 2-0 with just over 7 minutes to play.  But, the Kings capitalized on a Hurricanes mistake 24 seconds later to cut the lead in half and drew even with 3:11 to play and we were headed beyond regulation for the 2nd straight night -- and the 3rd time in the last 5 games.  This time, however, Sebastian Aho did what he seemingly always does, he won the game, beating Anton Forsberg just inside the left post for his 19th goal of the season.  Brandon Bussi made 11 saves for his 21st win in 25 starts.  Jordan Staal and Alexander Nikishin also scored for the Canes who are 10-1-3 in their last 14 games.

How should the headline read?  The Canes blow a 3-0 lead and lose, 4-3, in overtime?  Or, the Canes stole a point in their OT loss in Washington?  Because both of those things are essentially true.  According to head coach Rod Brind'Amour his team was as bad as he can recall in a 60-minute game.  And, statistically speaking, he was not wrong.  Carolina was dominated in every area of the game -- other than goaltending -- in the loss.  Only Frederik Andersen, who made 38 saves on the night, drew praise from the head coach.  Andersen stopped 19 shots in the 1st period and another 19 the rest of the way as his team spent far too much time defending on the night.  Mark Jankowski, Sebastian Aho and Shayne Gostisbehere each scored in the loss.  

Brandon Bussi made 34 saves to win his 19th game of the season as the Hurricanes beat the Senators, 4-1.  Bussi's victory helps to continue a record breaking start to his career.  No NHL goalie has ever won 19 of his first 23 starts.  In Bussi's 23 starts he's allowed 4 or more goals just twice and 8 times -- including the last three -- he's allowed 1 or fewer goals.  Carolina wasn't very good in the win, but they managed to score 3 times in the first period as William Carrier, Seth Jarvis and Taylor Hall staked the Canes to the big lead.  Andrei Svechnikov's 18th of the season, on the power play, made it 4-0 early in the 2nd period.  

The Canes lost to the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, in a shootout on a night when the power play -- which had been excellent of late -- went 0 for 5 and conceded a shorthanded goal.  Joel Nystrom scored his first NHL goal and was joined on the scoresheet by Jordan Staal and Jackson Blake in the loss.  One thing Carolina did well on Thursday was bounce back.  They never led in the game, but each time Chicago scored the Canes seemed to get the game back even quickly.  Alexander Nikishin took part in his first NHL fight as Chicago's Oliver Moore challenged him after a clean hit on Rick Lardis in the second period.  Nikishin didn't appear interested in fighting, but ended the bout quickly as Moore was knocked to the ice in 3 punches.  Moore would have the last say, however, as it was his shootout conversion ended the game in the 6th round and gave Chicago the bonus point.