Regular Season, Game 52: Hurricanes v. Edmonton Oilers

It's Kids Day at PNC Arena and though I'm not sure we'll see another game like it, the Canes are going to need to be just as good with the Oilers in town for the final meeting this season. The Canes outshot Columbus 50-19 in their 4-0 win on Friday night against a tired Blue Jackets team. Frederik Andersen recorded his third shutout of the season with four different Hurricanes finding the back of the net on J.F. Berube. The win was their fourth straight and they've scored at least four goals in each of those wins. This is the second and final meeting between the Oilers and Hurricanes this season. They met on December 11, my birthday, north of the border with the Hurricanes shutting down the dynamic duo of McDavid and Draisaitl. Sebastian Aho scored twice and added an assist to factor in on each of the team's goals in a 3-1 victory. Andersen made 22 saves that night, beating Mikko Koskinen. I don't expect any lineup changes for the team from the win on Friday night. DeAngelo and Smith will still be out on the backend, with Chatfield slotting in for the second straight contest. Andersen will be in the net again to make his 37th start of the season. 

Much like when Columbus rolled into town, Edmonton will be playing the second half of a back-to-back having traveled in from Florida. The Oilers, as the Blue Jackets had, beat the Panthers on Saturday afternoon, 4-3. The story of the game was Derek Ryan picking up his first NHL hat trick, scoring three of the teams' four goals. McDavid added two assists and Draisaitl scored the only other goal for the Oilers as Koskinen made 44 saves. The Oilers played with just 11 forwards against the Panthers and it didn't help that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins left the game early with an injury. Kailer Yamamoto is also banged up after blocking a shot yesterday. Both will be notable absences for Edmonton for today's game as they roll just 11 forwards again. Mike Smith gets the nod for the Oilers after the heavy workload Koskinen faced yesterday. Since making their coaching change, the Oilers have won six of eight, with yesterday's win snapping a two-game skid. The Canes have played quite a few afternoon games in the last week, so this isn't new territory for them. They're riding a hot streak right now and they'll be looking to keep that streak rolling by mimicking their efforts against two of the most lethal players in the league this afternoon. 

1st Period

Scoring

(CAR) 11:57- Teuvo Teravainen (15) (assisted by Andrei Svechnikov (27) & Jalen Chatfield (2))

(CAR) 16:53- Sebastian Aho (23) PP (assisted by Teuvo Teravainen (28) & Andrei Svechnikov (28))

Thoughts

Things could've been very bad when Connor McDavid beat Andersen five-hole. Fortunately for us, Warren Foegele, no longer a Hurricane, was offsides to negate the goal. From there, this period was almost completely dominated by the Canes. Derek Ryan, another former Hurricane, rang the post and had another breakaway stopped. McDavid missed most of the period after taking a stick high from Brady Skjei and his absence was felt. The Canes scored twice on two beautiful passing plays. Andrei Svechnikov factored into both, setting up Turbo for the opening goal, then again with Turbo as he set up Sebastian Aho on the power play. Things were really messy for both teams, but the Canes have been able to overcome that. The Oilers have had their chances to score, but Andersen has settled in after the goal was called off. It's good they got ahead because I feel like we're going to see an angry Edmonton team in the second period. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(EDM) 4:26- Derek Ryan (8) (unassisted)

Thoughts

It is very clear the Oilers are a much different team with McDavid on the ice and it was evident in this period. The Canes actually scored early in the period with Brett Pesce wiring a shot past Smith, but Svechnikov was offsides and the reaction from Edmonton was eerily similar to the Canes after the disallowed goal in the first. The Oilers scored the only goal of the period with Derek Ryan scoring his fourth in two days to cut into the Canes' lead after blocking a shot from Ian Cole at the point. McDavid was moving well and created some good chances, but Andersen didn't allow anything serious after the Ryan goal. The offense didn't generate too much after the Ryan goal, playing most of the game in front of Andersen. The highlight of the period was probably the debacle with the stanchion after the first commercial break. This game is far from over and it has the makings of a long third period. 

3rd Period

Scoring

None

Thoughts

The game slowed down for both teams and that was to the advantage of the Canes. Whenever you can take McDavid and Draisaitl out of their game, it will always be to your advantage. Each team had their chances, but both goalies played well in the period to keep everything out of their nets. There wasn't too much of a push from the Oilers, even with Smith on the bench in the last two minutes. Neither team had a goal called off either, so that may have helped with the lack of momentum changes. It was a defensive period that the Canes are known for and it resulted in two points. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Frederik Andersen (29 Saves on 30 Shots)

While it wouldn't count, the first shot he faced when right through the five-hole. From that point on Andersen was locked and loaded. He allowed the one goal in the second period, but he was stellar yet again for the Canes. The win gives him 29 for the season and 18 in his last 22 starts. He's been a brick wall as he closes out February strong. 

Second Star- Andrei Svechnikov (2 Assists)

The goals for the Canes were less about the shots and more about the passes that led to them. A factor on both of the goals was Svechnikov with a beautiful pass in the slot to Turbo for the opening goal, then a great seam pass to Turbo to find Aho on the power play. He also made a huge play late in the game to prevent a quality chance for McDavid to tie the game. 

First Star- Teuvo Teravainen (Goal, Assist)

Turbo is on fire right now with his goal to open things extending his point streak to eight games. He added to it with an assist on the power play goal, but he was probably the strongest forward on the ice for either team. It feels like the game has slowed down for him, especially since he's been reunited with Aho and Svechnikov. 

Final Thoughts

Two games against the Oilers with McDavid and Draisaitl being shut out for the season. In term, Sebastian Aho factored on all but one of the goals in the season series. The team seems to step their game up against some of the best players in the world. The win closes out another strong month for the team as they've now won five in a row. The top line for the Canes has been one of the best in the league in the last few weeks. They're moving the puck well and always seem to know where the other is on the ice. Frederik Andersen moves into the top spot in wins with his 29th. I felt like everyone had their moments in this one. Jalen Chatfield picked up an assist on the Turbo goal with a smart decision not to shoot the puck. The team will be in Detroit to begin March after a very weird game with Toronto last night. It'll be their second meeting with the Red Wings this season. The win also allows the team to expand their lead in the division momentarily and close the gap with the Avalanche for the President's Trophy. It was a solid performance as the team stays on the good side of a streak.