2022-23 Regular Season, Game 37: Hurricanes (24-6-6) at New Jersey Devils

The calendar has changed to 2023 but the Hurricanes are hoping to replicate the success that they had in 2022. They carry a ten-game win streak and 16-game point streak into the new year, both franchise records, and they look to expand those streaks on the road against the team that is chasing them in the standings. Friday night's game against the Florida Panthers was won on special teams. The Canes scored three times on the power play and killed all six of Florida's power plays, improving numbers for two units that have struggled at times this season. Four different Hurricanes scored goals and Antti Raanta stopped all 19 shots he faced to record back-to-back shutouts for the second time in his career as the team closed the month at 12-0-1. It was one of the best months in franchise history as this team became the first in franchise history to win ten games in a row. 

Projected Lines/Pairs

Andrei Svechnikov-Sebastian Aho-Martin Necas

Teuvo Teravainen-Paul Stastny-Seth Jarvis

Jordan Martinook-Jordan Staal-Jesper Fast

Derek Stepan-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Stefan Noesen

Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns

Brady Skjei-Brett Pesce

Calvin de Haan-Jalen Chatfield

Antti Raanta

Pyotr Kochetkov

Injuries/Scratches- Dylan Coghlan

IR- Ondrej Kase (concussion), Frederik Andersen (lower-body injury), Max Pacioretty (LTIR- Achilles)

No changes to the lineup for the Canes tonight as they'll go back to Antti Raanta for the fifth straight game. He's coming off of back-to-back shutouts, so it feels like a no-brainer. Pyotr Kochetkov will back him up after being announced as the NHL Rookie of the Month for December. The skating group remains the same as the team aims to push their streaks to greater heights. 

Tonight's Opponent: New Jersey Devils (23-11-2, 48 Points, 2nd in the Metropolitan Division)

While December was very kind to the Hurricanes, it was a brutal month for the Devils. After entering the month with the division lead, they've fallen back into second place. After a good start to the month, they'd go on to lose eight of their next ten games, including a six-game losing streak that included a loss to the Canes in Raleigh. They would eventually break their losing streak in their next game against Florida before losing consecutive games to the Boston Bruins. They were also in action on Friday night in a divisional matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After falling behind 2-1 more than halfway through the game, New Jersey scored three unanswered goals to prevail 4-2 over Pittsburgh. Jack Hughes scored twice, Dougie Hamilton scored a goal and added an assist, and Dawson Mercer picked up two assists as Vitek Vanecek stopped 25 shots in the win. New Jersey ensured they'd sit six points behind the Canes going into the new year and remain ahead of the pack of teams right behind them in the division. 

Last Meeting v. Carolina- The game in Raleigh was a little under two weeks ago and while the final scoreboard had the Canes as the victors, New Jersey played a very solid game. Jesperi Kotkaniemi got things going on the first shift with a goal 20 seconds into the contest. After the Canes had a goal disallowed, Jordan Staal and Teuvo Teravainen scored 2:04 apart to make it 3-0 with Teravainen's goal coming while the Canes were short-handed. New Jersey opted to pull Vanecek following the second period after allowing three goals on 13 shots. Jack Hughes would dent the armor of Pyotr Kochetkov to break the shutout, but Stefan Noesen banked a puck off MacKenzie Blackwood's back to make it 4-1, where it would finish. Kochetkov finished the game with 37 saves and provided Canes fans an all-time moment as they overtook the Devils in the Metropolitan Division. 

New Jersey's Starting Goalie: Mackenzie Blackwood (5-3-0, 2.96 GAA, .882 SV%)- It's been over a week since he's played, last playing on 12/23 in a losing effort to the Bruins. He played in the third period of the game against the Canes, stopping six of seven shots, but allowing the goal to Noesen from behind the net. Two starts ago, he stopped 34 shots against the Panthers in a win. He's also won both career starts against the Canes, allowing three goals in those starts. 

New Jersey Player to Watch: Dawson Mercer- He broke a seven-game pointless streak with two assists against the Penguins on Friday night to become the sixth player on the Devils to eclipse 20 points. He's tied with Tomas Tatar for fifth on the team in points and is tied with Hamilton for sixth with eight goals. His effort against the Penguins feels like it could be a return to form after playing very well for a month-long stretch across November and December. 

Scoring Summary

1st Period

None

2nd Period

(CAR) 8:00- Derek Stepan (3) (assisted by Stefan Noesen (11) & Jesperi Kotkaniemi (7)

(NJD) 16:18- Jack Hughes (21) (assisted by Dawson Mercer (13) & Erik Haula (14))

(CAR) 18:14- Sebastian Aho (12) SH (unassisted)

3rd Period

(NJD) 6:15- Jesper Bratt (13) (assisted by Tomas Tatar (12))

(CAR) 8:04- Derek Stepan (4) (assisted by Stefan Noesen (12) & Calvin de Haan (6))

(NJD) 8:38- Nico Hischier (15) (assisted by Jesper Bratt (23) & Tomas Tatar (13))

(NJD) 13:48- Jesper Bratt (14) (assisted by Dougie Hamilton (23) & Ryan Graves (7))

(CAR) 15:32- Martin Necas (16) PP (assisted by Brent Burns (23) & Sebastian Aho (18)) 

Overtime

None

Shootout

1. Tomas Tatar is stopped by Antti Raanta

2. Brent Burns is stopped by Mackenzie Blackwood

3. Jesper Bratt is stopped by Antti Raanta

4. Andrei Svechnikov scored on Mackenzie Blackwood

5. Jack Hughes is stopped by Antti Raanta

Let's Talk About the Game

I feel like I just played in that game because that got my heart going fast there at the end. This game ended with eight goals in regulation and it could've ended with a whole lot more if not for some excellent stops from Antti Raanta and Mackenzie Blackwood throughout the game. It doesn't feel like it but the Canes won this game on special teams once again. The Canes scored on the power play and on the penalty kill while going perfect on the kill themselves. The early portion of the game was dominated by the Canes' kill as they fended off two very good power plays from the Devils. Raanta was especially good on the second kill as the Devils built some momentum. The Canes played an excellent second half of the period, tilting the ice back in their favor on the backs of the penalty kill. They forced Blackwood to make some huge saves to keep it scoreless. No one broke through in the first period but little did we know this was the calm before the storm. It was the fourth line that would get things going and it was a three-zone effort. Jesperi Kotkaniemi made a great play to seal the boards, chip the puck off of the boards, and onto the tape of Stefan Noesen. Noesen, the former Devil, brought the puck into the offensive zone on a 2-on-1 with Derek Stepan, outwaited the defense, and made a great pass to Stepan, who deposited the puck into an open net to break the scoreless tie. The Devils would eventually respond with Jack Hughes fighting off Jaccob Slavin and slipping the puck past the outstretched pad of Raanta to tie it late in the period. The Canes would then take another penalty to go on the kill for the third time. For my money, this is the biggest moment in the game. Sebastian Aho made a strong defensive play on Hughes to steal the puck and though it was a little too far for him to handle, Blackwood decided to fan on his pass and give it right to Aho. The Canes' superstar wasted little time as he buried the puck into the unoccupied net to give the Canes the 2-1 lead through two periods. 

While three goals in the second period felt like a lot, it wouldn't adequately prepare us for the third period. Jesper Bratt would beat a guessing Raanta between his pads on a 3-on-2 to tie the game early in the third period. Less than two minutes later, the fourth line got the job done again as Stepan picked up a loose puck at the side of the net and elevated it past Blackwood to regain the lead. 34 seconds after the Canes took their third lead of the game, Nico Hischier wrapped one home to tie it again. The Devils, with most of the momentum at this point, almost took the lead after Dougie Hamilton rang the post. Things got a little weird after that. Teuvo Teravainen and Jonas Siegenthaler were each assessed penalties, Teravainen for tripping and Siegenthaler for embellishment, something I feel should really be a one-or-the-other situation. Bratt didn't seem to care as he scored his second of the game on a shot that Raanta has to stop. This was his softest goal allowed tonight and one that he likely stops 99 times out of 100. With the Devils playing with their first lead of the night, Dawson Mercer and Ryan Graves each took penalties that would give the Canes a 4-on-3 power play. During that advantage, Martin Necas wired a shot past Blackwood that he clearly didn't see to tie it up once again. Each side had their chances to win the game in regulation but no one could find the back of the net as the Canes, playing in their 13th overtime game of the season, extended their point streak to 17 games. The overtime period would be high intensity as both sides had some great chances. Raanta made a couple of good stops on Hughes in close. Blackwood stopped breakaways from Slavin and Seth Jarvis. All of the excitement would yield no goals and the Canes would head to their third shootout of the season. After Raanta made the first two stops, Andrei Svechnikov snapped one past Blackwood under his blocker to put the Canes on the verge of victory. The only thing in their way was Hughes and Raanta stood tall to earn the second point. 

Once the Canes earned that point at the end of regulation, I had come to terms with the idea that the streak could come to an end tonight. Either team could've won this game and they would've earned it. New Jersey came back from three deficits and Blackwood played very well. The Canes, after playing from in front for large portions of the game, needed a clutch goal to earn that point and then won the skills competition at the end. Raanta's statline isn't going to look pretty and he wasn't as sharp as he had been in the last few games, but he made the big saves when he needed to and stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout. The fourth line was the Canes' best tonight. They scored two big goals and could've finished with more. As I said earlier, the Canes' special teams won the game. The power play scored a late third-period goal that we haven't seen them score many times. The penalty kill, albeit with the help of Blackwood misplaying the puck, scored more than the Devils' power play did. The streaks live on but more importantly, the lead in the division grows by a point. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Martin Necas (Goal)

For as much criticism as the power play has received this season for their lack of results, something seems to be clicking in these last two wins. With their backs against the wall and their streaks in jeopardy, Necas ripped one from between the dots that beat Blackwood to tie it and force overtime. This is about as clutch as it gets as Necas adds another to tie his career high. 

Second Star- Stefan Noesen (2 Assists)

Enough good things can't be said about how crucial the fourth line was tonight for the Canes. Noesen helped to set up both of Stepan's goals, the first being particularly pretty as he beat a sprawling defender. His two assists make him the team's fifth-leading scorer as he hits the 20-point mark for the season. He's already off to a strong start to 2023 after ending 2022 on a good note. 

First Star- Derek Stepan (2 Goals)

Depth scoring has been a big part of the Canes' success during these ongoing streaks and it doesn't get much bigger than two goals from your fourth line. All Stepan had to do was put the puck into an empty net on his first goal, but the second goal was the result of a great box out as he won a fight to give the Canes the lead early in the third period. He's doubled his goal total for the season with tonight's effort.

What's Next

The next stop for the Canes will be another tough division opponent as they head to nearby New York for their first meeting of the season with the New York Rangers. They were in action today as well against the Florida Panthers at home. Mika Zibanejad scored twice and six Rangers finished with multi-point games as Jaroslav Halak got the start and made 32 saves in a 5-3 victory for New York. The Rangers are in the middle of the dogfight in the division, sitting in fourth place and occupying the first Wild Card spot at the moment. They've been playing some good hockey lately and feature the reigning Vezina winner, who we'll likely get to see on Tuesday night. I expect this to be a fight after last season's playoff series. We might even get to see an actual fight.