"Sharks Caught in a Tidal Wave": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 28: Hurricanes vs. San Jose Sharks

The Hurricanes welcome the young Sharks to Raleigh on Tuesday night, looking to move back in a positive direction amidst four losses in their last five games. The Sharks could be the perfect team to turn the tides against, but let's not sell them short. Led by a good veteran core with incredible young talent, this Sharks team will bite if given the chance. It'll be up to Martin Necas, red-hot Andrei Svechnikov, and the rest of the team to stun the Sharks before they sense blood in the water.

Scoring Summary
1st Period
CAR (4:26)- Shayne Gostisbehere (6) (William Carrier (4) & Jack Roslovic (4))
SJS (18:51)- Luke Kunin (7) (Macklin Celebrini (8) & Cody Ceci (8))
2nd Period
SJS (11:46)- Luke Kunin (8) (William Eklund (19))
3rd Period
CAR (4:11)- Brent Burns (2) (Sebastian Aho (23) & Martin Necas (29))
CAR (17:21)- Jalen Chatfield (3) (unassisted)

My Thoughts
Isn't this what we expected this game to be. The Hurricanes, by all accounts the better team on paper and in the standings, and the Sharks, a young team at the bottom of their division with an assortment of solid players, were destined to play a game that left every Caniac in the world terrified that things would go horribly wrong. Through two periods, it was trending that way. The Sharks never looked like they were dominating the Canes, but there was no denying that Carolina looked flat, especially during the second period. Fortunately, they don't ask "How?". They ask "How many?". Tonight, the magic number was three. The Canes took their sweet time getting there, but they hit it late. The worst-case scenario was avoided by earning two points.

The third period was all about redemption for the Canes. Through two periods, Brent Burns, like most of the team, hadn't been playing a great game. How does he respond? By having his forward instincts kick in and joining a 3-on-2 with two of the best playmakers on the team, getting to the front of the net, and being ready to shoot the puck into an empty net as Sebastian Aho fed him the puck. Burns, along with William Carrier, helped drag the group back into the game, getting the game-tying goal before Jalen Chatfield called his number late in the game. What seemed to be another tough night reversed course and turned into a good final result for the team.

Even in a losing effort, I was incredibly impressed by Macklin Celebrini. With San Jose being on the other coast, I don't find myself staying awake to watch their games. I hadn't watched him play a full game since Opening Night and he showcased every ounce of what made him the top pick in the draft. He played over 22:30 in the game, showing the coaching staff's trust in him in big spots. Celebrini picked up an assist on San Jose's first goal and created many more chances. Still, the Canes did a good job of keeping him in check in the third period. The most notable moment was Dmitry Orlov strong-arming him off the puck on a 1-on-1 early in the period. 

One sad note from the win was Jack Drury leaving the game after the first period with an upper-body injury. While Rod Brind'Amour might not be the best person to ask about a player's status after a game, the prognosis doesn't sound good. This likely means a call-up is coming. Tyson Jost would seem to be a leading candidate, but I would give serious consideration to Ryan Suzuki, who has been tearing it up in the AHL this season. Suzuki has waited his turn to get this opportunity. With Drury being a center, Suzuki would fit the spot. Imagine how cool it would be to see him finally get his chance after being drafted in 2019. Obviously, you hate to see guys get hurt and I hope Drury's injury isn't too serious.

When We Meet Again- The Hurricanes will take their return trip to San Jose in mid-March during their final West Coast trip of the season. The game will also be the Canes' last start after 9 pm for the season.

#RaiseUp First Star of the Game- Brent Burns
Brent Burns' goal early in the third period was the turning point of the night. The Canes had been so flat during the second period that his second goal of the season infused a shot of adrenaline through the group. Along with three shots, Burns blocked five shots, taking the brunt of a blast early in the game that momentarily sent him to the locker room. Burns didn't start the game great, but his effort in the third period helped get the group two points.

The Road Ahead- The homestand has three more visitors, beginning with the Ottawa Senators on Friday night. The Canes will also welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders. Once the homestand ends, they'll play three road games before Christmas, traveling to D.C., NYC, and Nashville. 

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