Regular Season, Game 57: Hurricanes v. Colorado Avalanche

On paper, this game promises to be a game between heavyweights as the top two teams in the league based on point percentage square off in Raleigh. It has been a long time since Colorado has been in town. They last visited on February 28, 2020, right before the COVID pause. The Canes erased a 2-0 deficit in the third period on two goals from Teuvo Teravainen, but Samuel Girard scored late in the third period to give the Avs a 3-2 win on the road. The Canes had won the meeting earlier in the season in Colorado, with Jaccob Slavin breaking the 1-1 tie late in the third period before Sebastian Aho scored the empty-netter to win 3-1. The Canes have been off since Sunday night after a hard-fought win over Seattle. The game was very back and forth. The Kraken held 1-0 and 2-1 leads, but a power play goal from Teravainen late in the second and a slump-breaking goal from Martin Necas midway through the third secured the victory for the Canes. Antti Raanta held down the fort and made some big saves to earn the win in his third start in six days. He'll be in the net again tonight with Frederik Andersen still not quite 100%. Alex Lyon was called up on an emergency basis to be the backup. 

Colorado currently paces the President's Trophy race with their 87 points and they're getting contributions from everyone. Cale Makar looks like the Norris front-runner, leading all defensemen with 21 goals and 65 points. Nazem Kadri has already broken his career-high in points (72) in just 55 games. Mikko Rantanen, with Kadri, is top ten in points (67), while Gabriel Landeskog is top ten in goals (30). Nathan MacKinnon, despite only playing in 43 games, has 60 points. Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz are one of the most-reliable goalie tandems in the league. There's a reason they've been so successful this season. They've lost three of their last four though, losing their last game 5-3 in New Jersey on Tuesday night. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead on goals from MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Makar, but allowed five unanswered goals to drop just their 12th game in regular, tying them with the Canes for fewest this season. Kuemper was in the net for that loss and he'll be getting the start again tonight for the Avalanche. While it's way too early to say, this is a potential Stanley Cup Final matchup tonight. I expect to see a well-rested team on the Canes' side after three days off. This is going to be a very fast game between two teams with very similar styles. I could see this being a very high-scoring game. 

1st Period

Scoring

None

Thoughts

This might be the best scoreless period I've ever seen watching the Canes. Carolina was buzzing from the drop of the puck and it was relentless. Antti Raanta faced his fair share of pushback from the Avalanche, especially on their power play, but he was perfect too. This period had a little bit of everything. Both teams were flying up and down the ice. The Canes had the lion's share of the good chances, including several breakaways on Kuemper, but they couldn't quite solve the puzzle. There were some good hits thrown by each side as well. The Canes definitely looked rested, but the Avalanche are the best team in the league for a reason. This is far from being settled. 

2nd Period

Scoring

None

Thoughts

The Avalanche were the better team, controlling the puck for most of the period, and earning two power plays. However, we head to the third period awaiting the first goal of the game still. The kill looked great on both of Colorado's advantages. They were outshot 17-6 in the period, but they made a nice push at the end of the period. There's going to come a time where Andrei Svechnikov is going to get the benefit of the doubt on some calls. I felt he drew one late in the period, then gets called for interference shortly thereafter. Both teams have their stars buzzing through 40 minutes, but nothing is getting past the goalies tonight. It will come down to who cracks first.

3rd Period

Scoring

(CAR) 14:20- Ethan Bear (3) (assisted by Jesper Fast (11))

(CAR) 18:28- Sebastian Aho (25) EN (unassisted)

Thoughts

This game could've ended very differently with how the beginning of the period started. Nathan MacKinnon had two amazing chances very early. One was sent off the post even though it beat Raanta, then the second was stopped with the shoulder and forced high. After that, the Canes regained control, drew a couple penalties, but, most importantly, finally found a way to beat Darcy Kuemper. Ethan Bear shot it from the point, it deflected in off Nazem Kadri and beat Kuemper to give the Canes the lead with just under six minutes to play. Sebastian Aho added the goal into the empty net and the defense shut it down in front of Raanta to get his second shutout of the season against the league's best team.

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Jaccob Slavin (5 Blocks, 24:22 TOI)

His defensive prowess is always going to be well-documented, but he made some standout plays defensively tonight on special teams that were absolute game-changers. He blocked several shots along the boards while on the kill. His best play of the night was a stop while the Canes were on the power play, stopping a 2-on-1 chance by sliding, avoiding the skates, and knocking the puck away. 

Second Star- Ethan Bear (Goal)

Yet another Hurricane has broken their slump, though it's a little more common for defensemen to get into slumps. He hadn't scored since New Year's Day, but he'd been playing very well tonight. The goal reminded me a lot of the Staal goal to tie the game against Pittsburgh, only this time the goal will be credited to Bear. It was very well deserved and was what the team needed to get over the hump to win. 

First Star- Antti Raanta (36-Save Shutout)

This feels especially funny because of the night former Canes' goalies are having tonight, just ask Mrazek and Ned. Raanta played arguably his best game of the season, which is a sentence we've been saying a lot lately. His stop on MacKinnon early in the third, as well as some iron luck, changed this game for the Canes. It's nice to feel like the Canes can rely on their backup in big spots and their starter hurt. 

Final Thoughts

Can you imagine these two teams playing in a best-of-seven series? I'm all for it if this is the quality we're going to see. This may have been one of the best games of the season in the league. Two Goliaths going at it for 60 minutes with only one coming out with two points. Tonight was the Canes' night as they weathered the storm in the second period and got some great bounces to really earn these two points. Antti Raanta is incendiary right now, winning his third straight start against some good teams. While only three players ended up on the scoresheet tonight, some guys deserved a bounce or two tonight. This wasn't necessarily a statement win for the Canes, but it sure was a good one. The road doesn't get easier as the Canes prepare for a back-to-back this weekend against both Pennsylvania teams. The weekend will begin with a game on ABC Saturday afternoon against the Flyers to wrap up this four-game homestand before they head to Pittsburgh for another afternoon game to finish the season series with the Penguins. The status of Frederik Andersen will be something to keep a close eye on for the weekend, otherwise, we could see Alex Lyon getting a spot start. This was a very fun game between two of the best in the league. I'm glad to see we came out on the right side of it.