2023-24 Regular Season, Game 22: Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders (Postgame)

After a dominant 4-1 win in Philadelphia, the Carolina Hurricanes returned home for the first of two games before a long road trip. Tonight, they met the New York Islanders for the second time this month. After a thrilling comeback OT win on Long Island, the Canes were looking for something more straightforward, while the Islanders sought a big road win in Raleigh. 

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (8:08)- Jalen Chatfield (2) (assisted by Michael Bunting (10) & Dmitry Orlov (8))

NYI (18:00)- Bo Horvat (7) (assisted by Mathew Barzal (14) & Anders Lee (3))

2nd Period

CAR (2:01)- Jordan Staal (2) (assisted by Jordan Martinook (6) & Jaccob Slavin (9)))

NYI (15:59)- Simon Holmstrom (6) SH (assisted by Jean-Gabriel Pageau (7))

NYI (18:03)- Pierre Engvall (2) (assisted by Mathew Barzal (15) & Noah Dobson (14))

3rd Period

CAR (0:39)- Jack Drury (2) (assisted by Stefan Noesen (7) & Martin Necas (9))

NYI (6:41)- Kyle Palmieri (6) PP (assisted by Noah Dobson (15) & Mathew Barzal (16))

CAR (19:57)- Sebastian Aho (6) (assisted by Jordan Staal (6) & Brent Burns (5))

Overtime

NYI (2:45)- Mathew Barzal (7) (assisted by Noah Dobson (16))

My Thoughts

Hockey is a crazy sport. It's one of the few sports a team can dominate for the majority of the night yet still look so bad doing it. While not the most articulate way to describe it, that was the Hurricanes tonight. I'm not just talking about the staggering 43-16 edge in shots. The Canes were clearly the better team for more time than the Islanders throughout almost 63 minutes. In the first two periods, they couldn't find that one goal to stretch their lead. Ultimately, it allowed the Islanders to stick around for so long that they eventually took the lead and played most of the third period with it. Sure, the Canes found their magic for another last-second goal, but it didn't need to be that way. Plus, they had to settle for one point in a game they should've finished with two. 

Pyotr Kochetkov's night deserves to be dissected goal-by-goal because he's getting a lot of flack for this loss. Bo Horvat scored the Islanders' first goal with two minutes left in the first period. This goal was the result of four Hurricanes allowing Horvat to skate through the middle of the ice undetected for an easy redirection goal. There's nothing Kochetkov could've done. The second goal was the short-handed backhander. This one needs to be saved. Kochetkov fails to put any pressure on Simon Holmstrom, allowing him to lift it over Kochetkov as he's moving backward in his crease. Pierre Envgall's goal at the end of the second period needs to be stopped, too. Yes, Jesperi Kotkaniemi was smoked by Engvall as he carried the puck into the slot from the boards, but the puck stayed on the ice the entire time. Kochetkov was caught guessing, and he clearly guessed wrong. New York's goal on the power play seems to be one people want to place on Kochetkov. Kyle Palmieri redirects the initial chance from Noah Dobson. Kochetkov gets most of it but not all of it. It squeaks through him and lands in the crease, allowing Palmieri to put it into the net easily. Sure, you'd like for him to hold the initial chance, but I have a hard time blaming the goalie on a redirected shot. The game-winner in overtime was labeled, and he had no chance. 

If Kochetkov had allowed four goals and the Canes won the game in overtime, I'm not sure the reaction would be as visceral as it is. I also think fans are still reeling from the 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay. In reality, since the road trip at the beginning of the season that ended in Tampa Bay, the goalies have had three outlier games. The first was the 5-2 loss in Florida on November 10. The other two games just so happened to be in the last six days. The reality is the Canes are 10-4-1 since that loss in Tampa Bay. They're also 10-2-0 during that stretch when allowing three or fewer goals. People are willing to overlook the wins over Columbus and Philadelphia while pointing to how bad Raanta was against the Bolts and how bad Kochetkov was tonight. I understand people will have knee-jerk reactions to everything. Could the Canes use another goalie while Andersen is out? Sure, but at what price? Until someone comes up with a good alternative, this is what we have to ride with.

On top of a tough night in the net, there were a few other Hurricanes who didn't have good nights. Seth Jarvis is at the top of that list. He had two key turnovers that resulted in goals for the Islanders, including the game-winner in overtime. He also took a penalty during the Canes' first power play, ending the man advantage before it had time to get much going. Something felt a little off about Jaccob Slavin tonight, too. He was way too late to pick up Horvat on his goal. Both special teams units struggled. The power play couldn't get anything past one of the worst penalty kills in the league and allowed a short-handed goal. The penalty kill fared a little better, but they did allow a goal as well. 

It has been a lot of doom and gloom thus far, so let's talk about what I did like tonight from the Hurricanes. At the top of the list is the captain getting back on the scoresheet. He came into tonight with two points since mid-October and without a goal since Opening Night. Tonight, he found the back of the net and assisted on the game-tying goal to force overtime. The fourth line also proved that anyone can be successful next to Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen. They picked up a huge goal early in the third period to tie the game. The third pair of Dmitry Orlov and Jalen Chatfield continues to impress. Chatfield scored, and Orlov assisted on the goal. Orlov nearly found the back of the net if not for another pesky goalpost. Most importantly, the Canes picked up a point in the standings. I understand being a little bitter that it wasn't two points, but there's no use crying over spilled milk. They have points in three straight games since the embarrassing loss, so that's something to be happy about. They aren't going to win every game, even if they deserve to. That's how it has always been and how it always will be. 

My Three Stars of the Game

3rd Star- Martin Necas-1 assist

With Svechnikov returning to the lineup, I expected Bunting to fall back to his spot on the fourth line. Instead, Necas was moved down. I can't say I was disappointed with the result. Necas was one of several players with four shots, added two hits, and an assist on Drury's goal in the third period. 

2nd Star- Jack Drury- 1 goal

It's safe to say Drury is on a roll. He has two goals and an assist in his last five games, scoring tonight to help the Canes draw even early in the third. The fourth line continues to be one of the most consistent lines for the team, with Drury and Noesen meshing well with whoever is thrown into the mix. 

1st Star- Jordan Staal- 1 goal, 1 assist

Tonight's goal could kickstart another incendiary December for the Staal line, or it could satisfy his appetite for another 21 games before the captain scores again. I'd like to think it's the former, but we'll see on Saturday. It was nice to see Staal contributing on the offensive end after being so snake-bitten for most of the season. 

Up Next- The road trip is looming, but not before the Hurricanes play one more home game on Saturday night. They'll face the Buffalo Sabres without Tage Thompson and for the second time at PNC Arena this season. After that, it's time to travel through Western Canada. The Canes are set to face the Jets, Oilers, Flames, and Canucks over the next week before returning to the east to face Ottawa and Detroit during the six-game trip.