"Back on Track Before the Break": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 56: Hurricanes vs Utah Hockey Club

For the last time before the two-week break, the Canes took the ice in front of the home fans on Saturday afternoon. Beaten, battered, and throwing up, this group needs this break terribly. Entering on a three-game skid, every Caniac in attendance hoped they could will their group to two points against the visiting Utah Hockey Club. While in a good spot heading into the 4 Nations break, two points would go a long way in easing the rising frustrations amongst the fans and the locker room.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (10:09)- Jalen Chatfield (5) (Jordan Staal (18) & Amdrei Svechmikov (22))

UHC (17:35)- Josh Doan (3) PP (Mattias Maccelli (10) & Michael Carcone (7))

2nd Period

CAR (6:35)- Seth Jarvis (21) PP (Brent Burns (16) & Andrei Svechnikov (23))

CAR (8:35)- Sebastian Aho (19) (unassisted)

UHC (10:19)- Clayton Keller (19) (unassisted)

CAR (14:14)- Sebastian Aho (20) SH (Seth Jarvis (22) & Jalen Chatfield (8))

CAR (19:15)- Seth Jarvis (22) (Jackson Blake (8))

3rd Period

UHC (16:11)- Clayton Keller (20) PP (Mikhail Sergachev (25) & Dylan Guenther (20))

CAR (17:16)- Jordan Martinook (10) EN (Sebastian Aho (35) & Seth Jarvis (23))

CAR (18:34)- Jack Roslovic (19) (Jackson Blake (9) & Juha Jaaska (4))

My Thoughts

I'll reserve any Mikko Rantanen jabs and trolling for the online community after the group scored seven goals in his absence. In all seriousness, this was as crucial a two points as the Hurricanes have earned his season. After two rough road games with one total goal, the offense needed to explode like this. They didn't allow Karel Vejmelka to replicate his performance from November, scoring seven times for the third time this season and the second time in a little over two weeks. The power play scored a goal. The penalty kill scored a goal. Pyotr Kochetkov made 36 saves. It was a thorough beating for 40 minutes to make the third period feel like a stroll down Easy Street. 

The driving force in the win was a four-goal second period. All four goals came from two men, both of whom will be playing next week for their countries. Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho have incredible chemistry. They didn't have anything to show for it in the first period, but the second was all theirs. After Jarvis scored on the power play, his pressure led to Vejmelka giving the puck away to Aho for an easy goal. The epitome of their connection was seen on their short-handed tally. Jarvis worked hard below the goal line to set up the Finnish Alternate Captain. Jarvis added one more late in the second with the help of the third man on the line. Jackson Blake also had a multi-point performance, adding two assists to bring the total to nine points for the trio. 

Another guy who had a big game was Jalen Chatfield. The defenseman doesn't often flex his offensive muscles, but he did on Saturday. He made the big defensive play that started what eventually became his goal on a 2-on-1 with Jordan Staal. He also played a crucial role in breaking up a chance before Aho and Jarvis got to work on the short-handed tally. His won't be a game that jumps off the page when looking at the box score, but Chatfield has turned into the team's second most reliable defender this season. He deserves a lot more praise than he gets. 

Now, the Canes get to enjoy their next two weeks. In doing so, they'll have the final memory of putting up seven goals in their final game. The Canes are in a very good spot right now. I don't think challenging the Washington Capitals is the most impossible task, but it's starting to feel like the Canes' battle will be against the Devils for second in the division. They've hit 70 points with their win over Utah, ending the "first half" of the campaign on good footing. There is plenty of work to be done, but it's time to enjoy two weeks without meaningful hockey.

#RaiseUp First Star of the Game- Seth Jarvis

If you doubted why he's on Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off, doubt no longer. Seth Jarvis was excellent on Saturday for the Canes, notching his second career four-point contest. He extended his team lead in goals by scoring twice in the second period, and he helped Sebastian Aho reach 20 goals by setting up his short-handed goal. Jarvis is going to surprise people unfamiliar with his game next week.

The Road Ahead- The break will keep the group off the ice in a game setting for two full weeks, continuing their season in 14 days against Toronto. The Canes will play two games in Canada before returning home to begin a three-game homestand on February 27th when they host the Buffalo Sabres for Whalers Night. This will begin a stretch of seven of their next eight games in Raleigh.