Carolina Hurricanes Month in Review: February 2023

The Canes returned to Earth a little at the beginning of January, going on a four-game skid before finding their footing again. They were riding that momentum into February but as is always the case, February was a weird month. It was a month of celebration and one of the most anticipated months in franchise history. To go along with a ten-day break for the All-Star festivities, February would feature a dad's and mentor's trip, a Hall of Fame induction, and an outdoor game in the same week. The Stadium Series game on February 18 against Washington was three years in the making for this franchise and the city of Raleigh. It was a chance for the Canes to showcase how far this team has come in its 25 years in North Carolina. It also allowed the team to earn some much-needed rest with a lighter schedule before the gauntlet begins in March. Here's a look at February for the Hurricanes. 

The Month in Review Through Headlines

2/1 at Buffalo- "Seventh Heaven"- The Canes score early and often against the Sabres as they pick up their seventh-straight win going into the All-Star Break.

2/11 v. New York (R)- "The Bread Man Cometh"- Panarin scores four goals, including three in a five-goal third period for the Rangers as they snap the Canes' long winning streak for the second time. 

2/14 at Washington- "Doing it for Dad"- In a Stadium Series preview, the Canes earn a 3-2 win over the Ovechkin-less Capitals in front of their dads and mentors. 

2/16 v. Montreal- "A Hall of Fame Night"- With Cam Ward going into the Hall of Fame, Jarvis scores caps a four-goal third period with his first-career NHL hat trick in a 6-2 victory. 

2/18 v. Washington- "Under the Lights"- Andersen makes 24 stops and adds an assist and the Necas line scores three goals as the Canes win the first outdoor game in franchise history 4-1 over Washington.

2/21 v. St. Louis- "Unloading the Monkey"- For the first time in 19 games, Svechnikov lights the lamp, doing so twice and adding an assist in a 4-1 win over the Blues. 

2/24 v. Ottawa- "14 for Father Finn"- Raanta stops all 32 shots he faces and the top line combines for five more points as the Canes blank the Senators 4-0 in their first meeting of the season.

2/25 v. Anaheim- "There's Something About Anaheim"- Gibson stops 51 shots to steal the game as the Ducks halt the Canes' win streak and sweep the season series. 

Other Notes

• 6-2-0, 12 points in February 
• 8 games were the fewest of any team in the league
• 39-11-8, 86 points, 1st in the Metropolitan Division 
• 3 points ahead of the Devils with a game in hand and 9 points ahead of the Rangers with 2 games in hand
• 3-for-18 (16.7%) on the PP, 20th in the league/19.4% overall, 23rd in the league
• 22-for-24 (91.7%) on the PK, 3rd in the league/82.7% overall, T-5th in the league
• 2.00 goals allowed per game, 2nd-best in the league (Boston- 1.89 GAA in 9 games)
• Antti Raanta- .964 SV% and 1.00 GAA (both the best of any goalie with at least 3 GP in February, won all three starts)
• Andrei Svechnikov- Fastest skater at the NHL All-Star Game 

Three Stars of the Month

Third Star- Seth Jarvis (5 Goals, 2 Assists, 7 Points in 8 Games)

In a month where he picked up his first NHL hat trick, it was clear Jarvis' game was on a different level. All of his points came after Rod Brind'Amour swapped Svechnikov and Teravainen on February 16, which also happened to be the night he put three past the Canadiens. He followed it up with another three-point night two games later against St. Louis. His five goals led the team for February and his hat-trick clinching goal was the first short-handed marker of his career. He's now on pace to surpass his numbers from last season, needing five goals and ten points to do so. 

Second Star- Jesperi Kotkaniemi (3 Goals, 4 Assists, 7 Points in 8 Games)

Just as the line changes helped the top line, they helped the second line and no one benefitted more from that in February than Kotkaniemi. He recorded points in five of the eight games, including a pair of multi-point games. He scored a goal against his former team and the first-ever outdoor goal in franchise history. He is another player that is close to setting new career highs this season, needed just two more goals to break his mark from last season. He's playing with a lot more confidence now and it's evident in his performances on the scoresheet. 

First Star- Andrei Svechnikov (2 Goals, 8 Assists, 10 Points in 8 Games)

All of the talk for over a month about Svechnikov was surrounding how he hadn't scored a goal in 2023. Though he was named to the All-Star team, he was stuck at 19 goals. Even though he wasn't scoring, he was setting up his teammates and he kept doing it in February. Of his team-leading ten points, eight of them were assists. He tied a career-high with three helpers against Montreal before finally breaking his slump at 19 games with two goals against St. Louis as part of another three-point night. He also added to his team lead in hits with 20 in February. He's finding ways to create offense and I really don't care whether it's by scoring or assisting. 

March Preview

Schedule Breakdown

16 Games

8 Home, 8 Road

12 Games v. East, 4 Games v. West

7 games v. Atlantic, 5  games v. Metro, 3 games v. Pacific, 1 game v. Central

3 sets of back-to-backs, 1 with travel, 1 with both on the road, 1 with both at home

11 games v. playoffs teams if the postseason started today

5 opponents that they'll face twice this month (VGK, TBL, PHI, TOR, NYR)

Games to Watch

3/12 at New Jersey

After outbidding the Canes for Timo Meier and the amid a heated battle for the division crown, the Canes and Devils will do battle one last time in the regular season in New Jersey. The Canes have won two of the three meetings, though the Devils won the last one in Raleigh. The added wrinkle of Meier is going to be a major story in the lead-up to it. It'll also be the second half of a back-to-back for both teams with travel included as Carolina will host Vegas and New Jersey will be in Montreal. With this being the last meeting with a month left in the season, it's going to be crucial for both teams to earn two points to get some separation. 

3/21 at New York (R), 3/23 v. New York (R), 3/25 v. Toronto, 3/26 v. Boston, 3/28 v. Tampa Bay

I usually limit myself to one or two games at a time if the Canes are playing the same team twice but after looking at this stretch of games, I had to put them all together. This is the toughest five-game stretch I can remember the team having in a long time. It starts with a home-and-home against the Rangers, a team that Canes haven't been able to close out twice this season. New York has outscored the Canes 7-0 in the third period in two meetings and have already added Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane before the deadline. I'm not sure how to beat this team. The fourth and final game with the Rangers kickstarts a four-game homestand at the end of the month and it'll feature the top three teams in the Atlantic coming to Raleigh. 

After that Rangers game, they'll have a weekend back-to-back against Toronto and Boston. Toronto beat Carolina in Raleigh earlier this season, 3-1, and they feature one of the most electric offenses in the league. The following night, Boston comes back to town for their final meeting of the season. The home team has won both meetings this season and the Canes clearly have the formula at PNC Arena against the Bruins. Boston hasn't won in Raleigh since the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019 and they haven't done it in the regular season since October 2018. The homestand ends with the Lightning coming to visit for the second time in March. It's an eight-day marathon of the Eastern Conference's best teams and the Canes will need to find a way to get points with New Jersey breathing down their necks.