Another weekend has come, another weekend has ended. For the Carolina Hurricanes, it just means more wins to add to the total that they’ve accumulated already this season. The Hurricanes faced the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, and the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Both games ended in Carolina wins and fans can’t complain when it comes to the success of the team.
Carolina Shuts Out Columbus
The Hurricanes were set to face off against the Blue Jackets for the last time this season on Friday after a wild first couple of games earlier in the year. Carolina came back from 4-0 down to win 7-4 on New Year’s Day. Although, Columbus came to Carolina and won 6-0 to set up the last game to see who would win the season series.
The first period saw no goals from either side but, the game really kicked off in the second and third periods. Hurricanes Captain, Jordan Staal, would start the scoring off at the 9:22 mark in the second period. His first attempt was initially stopped, but the Hurricanes kept making second and third chances to put the puck in the net. In the end, Staal would take a couple more whacks at the puck and the third shot he made in as many chances went in the net. The goal would make it 1-0 for Carolina on Staal’s fifth goal of the season. Also, that would also give Nino Niederreiter his 12th assist of the season along with Brett Pesce‘s 13th.
This is what determination looks like pic.twitter.com/hkTbxxV4fF
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 26, 2022
Just as the second period was winding down, Teuvo Teräväinen would make it 2-0 for Carolina. The goal would come at the 18:09 mark in the period. Furthermore, this would be a powerplay goal for the Hurricanes. After a face-off win by Sebastian Aho, he would win the puck back to Teräväinen who snapped the puck on the net. It seemed like it might have bounced off someone, although it seemed like it just came off Teräväinen’s stick awkwardly and just past Columbus’ netminder. Essentially, Teräväinen threw him the hockey equivalent to a changeup in baseball. All in all, not a bad way to finish the second period up 2-0 for the Hurricanes.
Teuv??? pic.twitter.com/gwv7a9dzWN
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 26, 2022
Hurricanes Add Two More
The third period was start off hot for the Hurricanes as they would score two goals at the 1:14 and 1:50 marks. That would end up being two goals in 36 seconds. The first one would come from Nino Niederreiter at the 1:14 mark. It looked like the Blue Jacket’s netminder was trying to play the puck behind the net. Although he wasn’t able to handle it enough as Niederreiter was able to steal it off of him. That would result in Niederreiter bouncing the puck off the goaltender’s skate and into the net. It would become a 3-0 game on Niederreiter’s 16th goal of the season. Furthermore, it would give Jesper Fast his 10th assist on the season along with Brady Skjei‘s 15th.
Nino is so good he can score from BEHIND the goal pic.twitter.com/m7b9qHKVRU
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 26, 2022
The goal that Vincent Trocheck scored at the 1:50 mark was none other than mesmerizing. Martin Necas had the puck and awkwardly came off his stick to a wide-open Trocheck. Trocheck would take a bouncing puck onto his stick in the slot, and snipe it top shelf on the blocker side. Essentially, the goalie had no chance to stop it and that made the game 4-0. That goal came 36 seconds after the Niederreiter goal.
It would be Trocheck’s 15th of the season and Necas’ 20th assist of the season. There wouldn’t be any more goals in the game but that was plenty enough as the Hurricanes won the game 4-0. Frederik Andersen would end the night stopping all 19 shots that he faced for his third shutout of the season. Also, Carolina secured the season series against Columbus.
Carolina Defeats Edmonton on Kids Day
The Carolina Hurricanes were looking to complete the season series sweep against the Edmonton Oilers. It seemed like the luck was going to the Oilers but Connor McDavid‘s goal was disallowed due to offsides keeping it at a 0-0 game. Although, it would be Carolina picking up the goals in the first period.
The first goal would come at the 11:57 mark of the first period as Teuvo Teräväinen would finish off a brilliant display of passing from Carolina as he was left open right in front of the net. Unfortunately for the Oilers, but fortunately for the Hurricanes, he would bury it past netminder Mike Smith. The passing display was just great as every Hurricanes player on that offensive sequence touched the puck before making it a 1-0 Carolina lead. That would be Teräväinen’s 15th goal of the season along with Andrei Svechnikov‘s 27th assist and Jalen Chatfield‘s second. Furthermore, that goal for Teräväinen would keep his point streak up to eight games.
This is the definition of team hockey. Sheesh. pic.twitter.com/gjqb5L7Qk9
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 27, 2022
Aho and Teräväinen Tie History
Carolina would get their last goal of the game at the 16:53 mark of the period in way of Sebastian Aho. Once again the Hurricanes offense just put on a clinic in what passing should look like. Furthermore, this was coming from the SAT line in way of Svechnikov, Aho, and Teräväinen. The absolute display of patience and the tic-tac-toe of the sequence gave Aho time to rip a one-timer from Teräväinen to make it a 2-0 Carolina lead. Just a masterful offensive sequence by the Hurricanes on the powerplay. That would be Aho’s 23rd goal of the season along with Teräväinen and Svechnikov’s 28th assists each. Plus, that would be Svechnikov’s second assist of the game which would earn him the third star of the game.
We’re hosting a passing clinic today, apparently pic.twitter.com/6I8u4F1R4F
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 27, 2022
What makes this play even better is that the goal would become the 171st point on the same goal for Aho and Teräväinen. They would tie franchise legends in Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen. That is some elite company to be in when it comes to getting points on the same goal. For the Hurricanes going into their 25th season next year, it really says something when Aho and Teräväinen tie guys like Francis and Dineen at 171.
Again… Wowza!???? pic.twitter.com/Q8oPc85Kck
— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) February 27, 2022
Andersen Notches 29th Win and Canes’ 37th
Carolina is now 37-11-4 on the season and goalie Frederik Anerden notches his 29th win of the season. Furthermore, is it time to put Andersen in the Hart Trophy conversation along with the Vezina? Only time will tell for Andersen and the Hurricanes.
