On Thursday and Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes had a back-to-back game set against Metropolitan foes in the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Washington game did not go as well as planned. Although, the Pittsburgh game had a rollercoaster of emotions that ended in overtime. How did Carolina end up in both games? Let us dive in:
Carolina Gets Blanked in Nation’s Capital
On Thursday night, the Hurricanes went into the Nation’s Capital to face the Washington Capitals who are in a fight for the last wild card spot. The game was on ESPN+ and Hulu so it was a big marquee game for both sides. Also, it was announced that the Hurricanes and the Capitals will play in the 2023 Stadium Series game at Carter-Finley Stadium. That is the home of the NC State Wolfpack football team in Raleigh, NC which is only a few hundred feet from PNC Arena.
In this game though, it was all Washington from the start. It seemed any momentum the Hurricanes tried to garner would fall to the wayside with a plethora of penalties. In total, Carolina would have six penalties all game, unfortunately letting in two goals in the process. They did however have three powerplays themselves, but nothing came of it. No matter what they tried to do, Carolina could not gain any momentum against the Capitals.
The first powerplay goal for Washington came in the first period at the 18:33 mark for Evgeny Kuznetsov. That would be the only tally of the first period. Capitals defenseman, Martin Fehervary, would push the Washington lead to 2-0 at the 8:30 mark of the second period. Hurricanes and league killer in Alex Ovechkin would have the second powerplay goal at the 15:05 mark of the period. Finally, the last goal for the game came in the third period in way of a Dmitry Orlov goal at the 19:02 mark.
Unfortunately, teams have tough games and this one was Carolinas. They played the next night at home looking for two points against Pittsburgh.
Hurricanes Complete Comeback Win Against Penguins
The Hurricanes came into Friday night looking for a win against the hard-charging Pittsburgh Penguins. Carolina had 79 points going into the game, Pittsburgh with 76. This game had huge implications as to how the division would shape up going into the weekend.
In the first period, while the Hurricanes had a slow start, the Penguins would take a 2-0 lead in the period. Penguins forward Jake Guentzel would give the Penguins an early lead at the 4:28 mark of the first period. Unfortunately, just like last game against Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby would do what he does best and score an absurd goal to make it 2-0. That goal would come at the 13:53 mark of the period. They would end the period up 2-0 on Carolina. Although, they would not score for the rest of the game. That is when Carolina turned to its captain to lead the way.
The Captain Goes Off
Fortunately for Carolina, they started off the second period better than they started the first. They seemed to be all over the Penguins trying to find a way to get themselves back within a one-goal game. Thankfully enough, that came at the 4:20 mark of the period thanks to the captain in Jordan Staal.
What looked like to be a mad scramble in front of the net, Nino Niederreiter took on the whole Penguins team to get to the puck. As he tried to throw it on goal, it went between goaltender Casey DeSmith‘s legs and bounced off a Penguins player. The puck would go out front to a wide-open Staal. Wasting no time, Staal would take the puck on his stick and wrist it to a wide-open net and bury it home. It was now a 2-1 Penguins lead.
The goal would become Staal’s seventh of the season along with being Niederreiter’s 14th assist. The second period would end 2-1, but that would all change in the third period.
Team Grit
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 5, 2022
Team Grind pic.twitter.com/FmLxfD9HP4
As the game was getting closer to the midway point of the third period, Carolina was still looking for the equalizer. Thankfully, that came at the 9:48 mark of the period. It started with Carolina defensemen Ethan Bear getting the puck at the top of the Penguins zone. He wristed the puck towards the net hoping to either look for a tipped shot or maybe a rebound opportunity off of DeSmith. Although, it would be the former of the two as Jordan Staal would have the excellent hand-eye coordination to redirect the puck past DeSmith. The Hurricanes had made it a tied game midway through the period. The goal would result in Staal’s second of the game and eighth of the season. Furthermore, that would be Bear’s seventh assist of the season.
Have a night Jordo!!! pic.twitter.com/WdCLPONEJd
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 5, 2022
Regulation would end with the game tied 2-2. Both teams would at least get a point. Although, who would come up with the game-winner to get their team the other point?
That’s So Svech
In overtime, Carolina got a powerplay opportunity after Kris Letang took a penalty for slashing Vincent Trocheck one too many times. On the issuing powerplay, Sebastian Aho had the puck above the circles in the Penguins zone. He would throw a no-look pass to Teuvo Teräväinen who would slap a one-timer on the net. Unfortunately, DeSmith was able to save the puck. Although, the puck would rebound to an open Andrei Svechnikov right in front of the net. Just like the first Staal goal, Svechnikov wasted no time and wristed the puck into the net giving Carolina a 3-2 overtime win. That would complete the comeback win for the Hurricanes and the full two points. The goal would be Svechnikov’s 23rd of the season along with Teräväinen’s 30th and Aho’s 33rd assists of the year.
SVECH CALLED GAME pic.twitter.com/0ReVg2TEZV
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 5, 2022
What’s Next for Carolina?
The Hurricanes welcome the Seattle Kraken to Raleigh on Sunday for the first time ever. After that, they will have to wait until Thursday to face the Colorado Avalanche. Carolina will take a much-needed break from Metropolitan teams as they face Western Conference teams this upcoming week. Furthermore, can Carolin start a new winning streak after getting blanked 4-0 in Washington and their 3-2 overtime win versus Pittsburgh?
