Regular Season, Game 18: Hurricanes at Seattle Kraken

For the first time ever, the Hurricanes will make their way into Seattle to play the NHL's youngest franchise. Coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss in San Jose on Monday night, the Canes will look to rebound against a team going through its fair share of bumps as a new franchise. Frederik Andersen gets the start in the net tonight after sitting for Monday's game and for the first time since the circus game against Los Angeles on Saturday. The only reported change to the lineup will be Steven Lorentz getting back into the fold with Derek Stepan getting the night off again. Despite being a new team, there are still obviously plenty of familiar faces on this Kraken team. Morgan Geekie was Seattle's selection from the Canes, much to the surprise of many in each fanbase. Geekie has been a constant on the fourth line this season and on the second power play unit. Haydn Fleury, who Seattle selected from Anaheim after he was traded to the Ducks at the trade deadline last season, has been in and out of the lineup all season for the Kraken. There are also plenty of former Central/Metro Division rivals among the forward group. Despite their early-season struggles, Seattle is coming off a huge 5-2 win over Washington on Sunday night after scoring three times on Vitek Vanecek in the second period. The win snapped a six-game losing streak that saw the Kraken allow four or more goals in every game, including seven goals twice. It's also the final game of a six-game homestand that they are just 1-4-0 on. Most of the blame has been placed on the goaltending, namely tonight's starter Philipp Grubauer. The netminder was a finalist for the Vezina last season and signed with Seattle in the offseason, but hasn't quite put it all together yet this season. Sunday's game against Washington was a good start for him. The Canes have played in six one-goal games in their last seven outings, so a nice multi-goal win where the offense strikes often would be wonderful. I'm tired of all these close games that come down to the wire. I need the offense to rain goals while the defense makes it an easy night for Frederik Andersen. This is the last game out west before the Canes come back to the east for a little bit too. I'm really excited to see how the Canes fare against a team they've never played before. You don't get to see many firsts nowadays, so tonight will be a welcome beginning. 

1st Period

Scoring

(CAR) 18:32- Brendan Smith (2) (assisted by Tony DeAngelo (13))

Thoughts

I didn't think this period was particularly exciting until the first penalty was called. Each team went back and forth between zones without anyone feeling like they had a truly dangerous chance. Both Andersen and Grubauer stopped what they needed to. Once Trocheck was called for hooking, the Canes controlled the play, leading to a successful kill and the first goal of the game. The pass from Tony DeAngelo was a thing of beauty and the shot from Brendan Smith was absolutely smoked. Grubauer stood no chance in stopping the puck and it allowed the Canes to take the lead into the period. None of the forwards lines have stood out to me all that much, but the defense is holding strong. While I'd ask for a more exciting period, I want it to be noted that I want it with the Canes scoring a lot of goals. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(SEA) 4:16- Jared McCann (8) PP (assisted by Vince Dunn (7) & Yanni Gourde (6))

Thoughts

I feel like I'm always saying that the power play just can't seem to get things going and it always feels like they're on a cold streak. Then I look up when they last scored on the power play was and I learn it was during the Vegas game and they've only had six chances since. The first unit was on the ice for all two minutes of the man advantage, but couldn't get anything past Grubauer. That was a common theme for the period as Grubauer shut the Canes out. I, much like Tripp Tracy, felt Seattle was gifted a power play on a "holding" call on Jaccob Slavin and it led to the tying goal from Jared McCann. I think it's time to put the lines back and put Andrei Svechnikov with Aho because I thought Svech was dominant all period. No offense to Jordan Martinook or Steven Lorentz, but this team needs goals quick.  

3rd Period

Scoring

(SEA) 16:52- Marcus Johansson (2) (unassisted)

Thoughts

All it took was one weird play for the Kraken to take the lead and that's exactly what happened. The Canes had all the chances in the world to tie this game early in the third period, but Philipp Grubauer denied them all. The turning point for me was the chances for the Aho line before the midway point in the period where Jarvis gets stopped on a 2-on-1 that both Aho and Martinook touch the puck on before it leaves the zone just for Martinook to get stopped 1-on-1 against Grubauer. That was the moment I felt it was moments like that where Svechnikov should've been on the top line there because I think he stands a higher chance of burying that puck, or at the very least creating a rebound. The game-winner from Johansson needs to be stopped by Andersen. It completely caught him by surprise and that was it. I didn't hate that Svechnikov dropped the gloves, though I did hate that he got the extra two minutes and they broke it up way too early. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Brendan Smith (Goal)

Usually, we give the credit to the goal scorer, but it's hard to argue that it was the setup that was crucial and the net-front presence from Staal. Despite that, credit is due to Brendan Smith for the absolutely perfect placement of that puck. Grubauer didn't stand a chance on it. I also thought he played well defensively. The defense as a whole was a major bright spot for the team. 

Second Star- Jordan Staal (16:15 TOI)

I always write little comments during periods about how amazing Jordan Staal is with the puck. It never feels like he's ever taken off it and it's usually two or three times a game, especially on the penalty kill. I thought he played great and was especially good on faceoffs, winning over 70%. He was also the man in front of Grubauer on the goal taking away his eyes. 

First Star- Tony DeAngelo (Assist)

The pass from DeAngelo to set up the Smith goal was great and needs to be seen as such. For me, the reason he's the first star was because of how good I thought he looked defensively. He's paired well with Slavin on the top pairing with Bear out and tonight he made some critical plays defensively to deny chances. It's been an underrated part of his game given his offensive production as of late. 

Final Thoughts

This is the first time the Canes have lost back-to-back this season and it's the second time I felt the goalie stole a win for the opponents, the other being Carter Hart earlier in the month. Goalies always seem to find a way to play their best game of the season against the Canes, a sentiment I feel every organization shares when it happens to their team. I didn't love Martinook and Lorentz playing up tonight. Andrei Svechnikov was humming in the second period and should've been moved up the lineup in the third period. The fight hampers the way I felt his game went because I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. I don't usually call out officiating, but this was the first game in the road trip I felt the referees got in the way of the game. The "holding" call on Slavin in the second period was a joke and led to the McCann goal. I didn't love how they broke up the Svech-Dunn fight and then tacked on an extra two for Svech. Seattle played with an extra man at least twice and Jamie Oleksiak cross-checked Nino Niederreiter at least six times on one play and nothing was called. They weren't the reason the Canes' lost, but the call in the second period was a killer. Regardless, the team is heading back east (finally) after five games, and a 3-1-1 record is nothing to be upset about. They earned seven of a possible ten points and 70% is really good considering all but one of those games was decided by one goal. I wouldn't be surprised to see the lineup change on Friday afternoon against Philadelphia and it really needs to because tonight's didn't work. Everyone enjoy Thanksgiving today (it's 12:55 am in North Carolina as I'm writing this) and get ready for some Black Friday hockey back in a time zone much better suited for watching Hurricanes hockey.