"A Game of Inches": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 53: Hurricanes vs. Los Angeles Kings

A bug has caught the Hurricanes as they play their third straight game with questions throughout their lineup. Despite alluding to several game-time decisions for tonight's lineup, only one Hurricane would miss the game. Andrei Svechnikov was unable to play because of an upper-body injury. However, this meant Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall were good to go after missing Thursday's game. It also meant Hall would skate in front of the home crowd for the first time. Against a Kings team playing the final game of a disappointing road trip, the Canes tried to make it a long flight back to California.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (15:22)- Jesperi Kotkaniemi (11) (Sean Walker (9) & Shayne Gostisbehere ())

LAK (17:57)- Philip Danault (5) (unassisted)

2nd Period

LAK (1:03)- Trevor Moore (7) (Philip Danault (20) & Vladislav Gavrikov (15))

LAK (16:58)- Kevin Fiala (17) (Quinton Byfield (13) & Drew Doughty (1))

3rd Period

CAR (5:44)- Eric Robinson (12) (Brent Burns (15) & Jaccob Slavin (16))

LAK (11:40)- Kevin Fiala (18) (Quinton Byfield (14))

My Thoughts

Hockey is a game where bounces one way or the other are the difference between winning and losing. Sure, it applies to every sport, but tonight's game was a perfect example. On the opening goal, the Kings thought they had a great defensive play to break up a 2-on-1, only for Jesperi Kotkaniemi to redirect a shot seconds later. The Canes did the exact same thing on the 2-1 goal, getting a 2-on-1 stop before the Kings scored. After the Canes made it 3-2 in the third, if Jordan Martinook's shot was one inch to the right or if the puck hadn't bounced on Seth Jarvis in the crease, the Canes would've tied the game. If Eric Robinson had handled a 2-on-1 pass, Kevin Fiala wouldn't have turned it up the ice to score the dagger seconds later. It was an incredibly entertaining game between two very good teams. It just stinks the Canes couldn't be on the right side of it.

Like I always do when discussing the officiating, I provide the disclaimer that the stripes didn't cost the Canes the game. My criticism is independent of the final score. That being said, the officiating tonight was laughably bad at critical moments. Juha Jaaska had to issue vigilante justice after the referees turned a blind eye to a clear shove from behind into the boards along the bench. Dmitry Orlov, who had a bad night, appeared to be hooked as he circled the net. Instead of getting the call as he went to the ice, the puck ended up on Philip Danault's stick and in the back of the net to tie the game at one. Drew Doughty got away with a lot tonight, including a clear-as-day cross-check on Mikko Rantanen, which is crazy because he also took two tripping penalties. The fans at the Lenovo Center weren't happy with the stripes tonight and I don't blame them.

At the end of the night, the Canes' effort wasn't good enough. I know they've been battling a bug in the room, so several guys are likely playing at less than 100 percent. Still, they were a step behind for most of the second period and parts of the third. It was an especially rough night for Orlov and Frederik Andersen. Orlov was outworked twice by Kevin Fiala, who also made Andersen look silly on his first goal late in the second period. Andersen was victimized twice over his blocker at critical moments. The Kings played like a team in need of a win, handing the Canes their first regulation loss at home in almost a month. 

The biggest positive takeaway from the night was the chemistry of the top line. Jackson Blake has earned every second of his time with Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen and he has looked very good with the Finnish duo. I thought his first period was one of his best periods of the season, He set up each of his linemates with Grade-A chances in the opening 20 minutes, though neither found the back of the net. His game has hit a new level since Christmas, with January being his most productive month of the season. I thought the Aho line was the group's best tonight, even if they didn't find the scoresheet.

When We Meet Again- The Hurricanes will visit Los Angeles in mid-March during their final trip west this season. It'll be their third stop during a four-game road trip and the second during their California leg.

#RaiseUp First Star of the Game- Jackson Blake

The rookie has been impressive with his new linemates since being put together following the trade. Jackson Blake didn't record a point tonight, but he played 22:31, eclipsing his previous season-high from Thursday by almost three-and-a-half minutes. He set up the two best chances that didn't go in the net in the first period and had a great chance on the power play blocked. He's not in the Rookie of the Year conversation right now, but he's turning into a valuable part of this group.

The Road Ahead- There are only three games left before the break, and the next two will be away from the Lenovo Center. The Canes will face the Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild in a pair of important road contests on Tuesday and Thursday. To finish their pre-break schedule, they'll host the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday afternoon.