Regular Season, Game 53: Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings

The first time these two met this season was during the height of the Canes' COVID mess. Back on December 16, the Canes sent out a team with a lot of its AHL guys and only ten forwards. It featured one of the most back-and-forth first periods of the season as the two sides alternated goals for 20 minutes. Jesper Fast and Jesperi Kotkaniemi both assisted on two goals and Jack Drury scored his first NHL goal in a wild 3-2 period. The Canes would go on to win that night, despite being shorthanded on the ice, 5-3 with two goals in the third period to beat Alex Nedeljkovic in his return to Raleigh. This time, the Canes will be mostly complete in that they'll have a full team on the ice. The Canes are coming off a tight 2-1 win over Edmonton on Sunday afternoon. Frederik Andersen made 29 saves in the win with Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho providing the scoring in the first period. Andersen gets the night off with Antti Raanta in the starter's crease during the morning skate. This suggests to me that Andersen will be in the net for both games of the back-to-back this week against Washington and Pittsburgh. No major changes to the lineup seem to be in place with Chatfield still in with some family in attendance, while DeAngelo and Smith recover from their injuries. 

The Red Wings' last game against the Toronto Maples Leafs was easily one of the weirdest games of the season. The Red Wings nearly overcame a 7-2 deficit in the third period, getting as close as 7-6 and 8-7, but ended up allowing ten goals in the 10-7. Both Nedeljkovic and Thomas Greiss played in the loss, but neither looked good at all. 11 different skaters scored in the loss, with Filip Hronek and Lucas Raymond leading the way. They're in the midst of a tough part of their schedule in which they've lost three of their last four to some of the toughest teams in the league. In those three losses, they've allowed at least five goals. The young core of this team has been leading the way for the Wings, with captain Dylan Larkin (25) pacing them in points (55), Hronek (24) adding 39 points from the blueline, and Lucas Raymond (19) and Mo Seider (20) being in the Calder conversation. Larkin boasts a nine-game point streak to add to it. Nedeljkovic starts after giving up six of the team's ten goals against Toronto. I don't expect this game to be nearly as eventful as the Wings' game with Toronto, but I expect to see a lot of goals. The top line for the Canes has been lethal in the last few games, but the depth scoring has been just as adequate. The focus will be on keeping the Wings' stars off the scoreboard with Raanta in the net. This isn't going to be an easy game for the Canes.

1st Period

Scoring

(CAR) 13:02- Sebastian Aho (24) PP (assisted by Vincent Trocheck (22) & Teuvo Teravainen (29))

Thoughts

The Canes came out hot, but it quickly went the other way with back-to-back penalties in the first seven minutes of the game. While the first power play looked really good for the Wings, the kill stood tall and killed them both off. The momentum had swung in Detroit's favor until Dylan Larkin took a bad penalty and the Canes made him pay. It only took 14 seconds to bury the puck as both Aho and Teravainen added to their point streaks on Aho's goal. It also made franchise history as they combined for a goal for the 172nd time in their careers. Shortly after the goal, Raanta made a huge save on Zadina trying to tip a puck home with the pad. The Canes were unsuccessful on their second power play, but things are back in their favor for now. It was a solid end of the period after the Wings looked strong. Detroit isn't backing down from the challenge of the Canes, so there is still plenty of life in this game. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(DET) 12:00- Carter Rowney (4) (assisted by Sam Gagner (14) & Adam Erne (9))

Thoughts

The Red Wings played a much better period than in the first and they were rewarded with a hard-fought deflection goal by Rowney. The Canes didn't generate much offense outside of some great shifts from the SAT line. They may have accounted for almost every shot for the team in the period. Both Nedeljkovic and Raanta have been played spectacularly with just one blemish each. I really need to rest of the forward lines to generate something in the third period. The final 20 minutes were the difference in Raleigh back in December, the Canes scoring the only two goals then. This has been a complete reversal from the game they played against Toronto, but that was to be expected. The Canes need to show more signs of life and can't rely on that top line to do all the work to earn these two points. 

3rd Period

Scoring

(DET) 2:45- Michael Rasmussen (8) (assisted by Jordan Oesterle (5) & Filip Zadina (10))

(CAR) 7:06- Jesper Fast (11) (assisted by Brett Pesce (14))

(CAR) 16:12- Jordan Staal (6) (assisted by Ian Cole (12) & Nino Niederreiter (13))

(DET) 16:50- Dylan Larkin (27) (unassisted)

Thoughts

I'm not sure who probably feels like they should've won this game in regulation because an argument that it could apply to both teams. The Wings came out hot to start the period and took the lead early. Then the Staal line got some good bounces as Jesper Fast tied it less than five minutes later. The captain then gave the Canes the lead on a great second-chance shot, but the Wings' captain tied it 38 seconds later. The goalies, despite the goals scored, have kept their teams in the game. They've both earned the first point for their sides, so now it's time for someone to step up and get the job done. The Wings have looked good for three periods. It's going to take a huge effort to get this second point. 

Overtime

Scoring

(DET) 4:52- Lucas Raymond (16) PP (assisted by Tyler Bertuzzi (22) & Moritz Seider (35))

Thoughts

The first minute of the session had just about everything. The Canes hit a post and Raanta made some huge saves on breakaways. The difference was a too many men penalty that would be costly as Raymond puts home a shot with the net wide-open. It's a tough way to lose this one, but they get a point. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Jordan Staal (Goal)

The entire Staal line played very well in the third period, accounting for both of the team's goals. He was originally credited with the first goal that was really Fast's, but he scored late in the period to give the team the lead late, though it didn't last. I thought he had another solid game, while his faceoff numbers won't reflect that too much. 

Second Star- Sebastian Aho (Goal)

The goal early set the tone for the Canes on the power play. It was another good passing play, but the finish was big since the Canes hadn't been generating much offense to that point in the first period. His entire line was buzzing in the second period and almost broke through a few times, but they couldn't. A franchise record for him and Turbo is no small feat either. 

First Star- Antti Raanta (37 Saves on 41 Shots)

If not for the play of Raanta tonight, the Canes would've lost this game in regulation. He made some huge saves in every period to keep it tight and just had some bad puck luck on some of the goals. I'm not sure how many breakaways he stopped in almost 65 minutes of play tonight. This is probably one of his best efforts of the season. It's just a shame they couldn't kill the last eight seconds. 

Final Thoughts

While one point is fine, this is a game where two would've been much better. I understand two points every night is the goal, but there are nights where you have to be willing to accept the one. Detroit is outside of the postseason right now, so being able to come in and take two points is almost expected. I really liked the Wings' game tonight. They played fast and kept the Canes neutralized for long stretches. The two big moments in the game are the Skjei whiff that leads to the Larkin goal right after Staal gave the team the lead, and then the penalty in overtime. They were so close to a shootout, but that wasn't in the cards tonight. We'll continue to be on point streak watch for both Teravainen and Aho as they improve their runs to nine and seven games respectively. I'd expect we see Andersen in the net when the team heads to Washington for the first half of a back-to-back with travel. One point stinks,  but it's better than losing in regulation.