Regular Season, Game 3: Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens

To the casual fan, this is just another game on the schedule. For the diehard Hurricanes or Canadiens fans, this game is something far bigger. All the back-and-forth from these two fanbases and the front offices of each team has made this a potentially exciting spectacle. Stemming from Montreal's offer sheet of Sebastian Aho in the offseason of 2019 and continuing through the successful offer sheet of Jesperi Kotkaniemi and other offseason antics, this could be fun. The Canes haven't played since their 3-2 win Saturday in Nashville, while Montreal is yet to earn a point, starting the season 0-4-0. This is the homecoming game for the aforementioned Kotkaniemi, who has yet to make a major splash in the team's first two games, but this would be the perfect night to see that change as he plays with fellow Finns Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Frederick Andersen looks to be making his third straight start for the Canes with his counterpart likely to be Jake Allen. I'm sure this means a whole lot more for the fans than the players since they have very little to do with all the antics taking place off the ice, so I'm sure this will just be business as usual for the Hurricanes.

1st Period

Scoring

None

Thoughts

I didn't love this period from the Canes. They looked a little sloppy with the puck at times and it just didn't feel great. Montreal could've had the lead, but a Gallagher deflection on the power play was called back for goalie interference. The Canes had their opportunities, but couldn't cash in. Derek Stepan couldn't pick up any speed as he exited the box and was stopped on a breakaway. Jesperi Kotkaniemi had a couple chances, his best of which was on a pass from Sebastian Aho that was in his skates instead of on his stick. Frederik Andersen was perfect in the period and made a huge breakaway save on Josh Anderson early in the period and Montreal as a whole missed the net quite a few times. Jesper Fast continues to be the best forward on the ice and Andrei Svechnikov had a shot ring off the metal. The Habs fans booing Kotkaniemi was stupid but expected. It's almost as if it's lost on them that this was more a deal from the front office than the player himself. The Canes will have about 27 seconds on the power play to open the period. I need to see more signs of life from the forwards.

2nd Period

Scoring

(CAR) :23- Sebastian Aho (1) PP (assisted by Teuvo Teravainen (2) and Tony DeAngelo (3))

(CAR) 2:12- Andrei Svechnikov (4) (assisted by Necas (2) and Vincent Trocheck (1))

(MTL) 17:57 Tyler Toffoli (1) PP (assisted by Nick Suzuki (1) and Jonathan Drouin (1))

Thoughts

The Canes came out hot to begin the period and got early goals from Sebastian Aho on the power play and Andrei Svechnikov from a tough angle. Both goals were set up on quite similar passes across the seam from Teuvo Teravainen and Martin Necas respectively. They looked to be in control of the period, but Montreal really applied some pressure. Carolina last season had a knack for taking way too many penalties in a game and relying too many times on the penalty kill and goalie to bail them out. The Canes have taken five penalties to this point, most of which were avoidable, and it was the fifth one that allowed Montreal to get on the board courtesy of Tyler Toffoli. What could've been a two-goal lead has turned into just one and puts the Canes in a completely different situation. If the first two games are any indication, the Canes have been good in the third period so far. It's time to step on the throat and get a few more to leave Montreal with two points and a win.

3rd Period

Scoring

(CAR) 9:23- Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1) (assisted by Brady Skjei (1) and Sebastian Aho (3))

(CAR) 19:22- Sebastian Aho (2) EN (assisted by Teuvo Teravainen (3) and Vincent Trocheck (2))

Thoughts

Third game ends the same way as the first two games. The Canes crippled the Canadiens defensively, though they did get their chances, and managed to score twice to put the game out of reach and leave Montreal with two more points. The storyline, as it should be, will be the goal from Jesperi Kotkaniemi in his return to Montreal. It's a great way to get his first as a member of the Hurricanes and will stick it in the faces of Montreal fans. The Canes just outworked the Canadiens in the third period and it was reflected in the scoresheet. Frederik Andersen made some unreal saves in the period to keep it a two-goal game before Aho was able to score his second of the night into the empty net. His performance is likely to get lost in the shuffle, but he was spectacular again tonight.

Canes Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Jesperi Kotkaniemi (First goal with the Hurricanes in his return to Montreal)

This spot could easily go to a bunch of guys (Teravainen and Fast especially), but there's no doubt Kotkaniemi deserves this spot. It's some sort of poetry that his first with the team would be in this game, but the goal itself was at a huge point in the game and simply was a beautiful deflection to give the Canes a two-goal lead. He had plenty of other chances and this was easily his best game in a Hurricanes uniform.

Second Star- Frederik Andersen (27 saves on 28 shots)

Andersen has looked more and more comfortable with each passing game with the Canes. Tonight, he faced shots in flurries and was able to keep almost all of them out. His ability to move side-to-side and track pucks has been impressive. The defense gave up several breakaway and high-danger chances, but Andersen was able to stand on his head again and ensure the Canes escape Montreal with the win.

First Star- Sebastian Aho (2 goals, Assist)

This is the game I was waiting for Aho to have. A lot of credit needs to go to Teuvo Teravainen's passing on the PPG that broke open the scoring and the ENG to ice it. He was also a major part of the Kotkaniemi goal, getting the puck to Skjei at the point. He was all over the ice and this was his best performance so far this season in a game that the Canes really need to win for reasons bigger than hockey.

Final Thoughts

Aho and Kotkaniemi have been the focus in the last few seasons with offer sheets being at the center of everything between Montreal and Carolina. They combined for three of the four Carolina goals tonight. Aho broke out with three huge points and the stars really played like stars. Andrei Svechnikov scored for the third straight game, Teravainen and Trocheck picked up two assists, and Frederik Andersen won for the third time this season. The story is going to be Kotkaniemi, obviously, is going to be the focus given the situation of things, but that's just a minor footnote in how good a game the team played. The penalty kill was five for six tonight and the Canes stayed out of the box for the most part in the third period. There didn't appear to be any rust after being off for a few days, but there's more work to be done. They moved Montreal to 0-5-0 to start the season, while the Canes remained perfect in three games. The Canes are back at it Saturday night in Columbus.