"Could Someone Please Score?": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 55: Hurricanes at Minnesota Wild

Playing the final road game before the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Canes needed to get back to their winning ways after dropping their last two in regulation. Scoring has been scarce during this mini-streak, so a big game from the offense was expected. Minnesota has been struggling, too, being shut out in their last two games. Without their top scorer and one of their biggest agitators, the Wild would need the same trio responsible for their win in Raleigh to be sharp.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

MIN (2:55)- Yakov Trenin (5) (Marat Khusnutdinov (4) & Zach Bogosian (8))

2nd Period

None

3rd Period

MIN (0:51)- Vinnie Hinostroza (1) (Jared Spurgeon (12) & Jonas Brodin (13))

CAR (17:12)- Sebastian Aho (18) (Seth Jarvis (21) & Andrei Svechnikov (21))

My Thoughts

The Canes are fine. The world isn't over. Life will go on. Yadda, yadda, yadda. The Canes played a solid road game. They just couldn't score goals. I'm sure it's starting to take a toll on the group in the locker room, so there's no need to harp on it any further. It's seemingly hitting Mikko Rantanen the hardest. The longer the night went and the less Rantanen was scoring, the more evident his frustrations were. It boiled over when he was called for his second tripping penalty after a picture-perfect sweep check that ended with Marcus Johansson losing his edge. It's a penalty by today's standards, but that was a dumb rule change. It didn't help that he took a shot to the knee or foot late in the game, hobbling him for the two-minute drill.

During this three-game losing streak, the Canes have struggled offensively. It's not for a lack of chances. Jackson Blake had the best chance of the night but lost the puck as he tried to move to his forehand. They peppered Filip Gustavsson with 38 shots and had even more blocked or miss the net. It took a minor miracle for them to avoid the shutout in Minnesota, getting a late Sebastian Aho goal with the extra attacker on the ice. They had 29 shots two nights ago against Eric Comrie and 28 against Darcy Kuemper on Saturday. That's just three goals on their last 95 shots. It also ignores the two goals they've had disallowed, too. It's not just Rantanen. It's the entire team. It's a shame because I thought they played an otherwise good game. 

The loss will overshadow Frederik Andersen's performance because I thought he was excellent. He's been a little rocky since returning from knee surgery, outside of his shutout win in New York last week. Tonight, he was spectacular. He made one mistake, and it ended up being the game-winner. In his defense, the shot was deflected and hit the post before he reacted the way any normal person would. Still, his performance before then was great. He kept the group within striking distance all night. He had a desperation save or two to prevent the Wild from extending their lead. It'll go down as a loss, but we all know it's a lack of goal support that really cost him tonight.

The fourth line was hardly on the ice tonight. Juha Jaaska only played 5:31 after missing the Winnipeg game. If not for their time on special teams, Jack Roslovic and Eric Robinson would've been right there with him. I've never understood dressing 12 skaters if you aren't planning on using them, especially when you're second-leading goal scorer and one of the fastest skaters on the ice are on that line. I also have no room to talk about coaching decisions, so ignore me. On one hand, if Jaaska isn't going to play, bring up someone else. On the other hand, what would change if they brought up someone else to play in the same spot? What I do know is that Dmitry Orlov might need Saturday off because he hasn't looked good this week at all.

#RaiseUp First Star of the Game- Frederik Andersen

I've gushed about Frederik Andersen's night enough. He was the Canes' best player by a considerable margin. The game could've gotten out of hand if not for some timely saves. That he squirmed and allowed the winning goal doesn't affect my view on his night.

The Road Ahead- The final game before the break is on Saturday afternoon against the Utah Hockey Club. Aside from the four who will compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off, the rest of the group won't play until the team travels to Canada for two north of the border against Toronto and Montreal on February 22nd and 25th.