"Your Guess is as Good as Mine": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 54: Hurricanes at Winnipeg Jets

The final week before the break brings the Canes to Winnipeg for their yearly meeting with the Jets. After having their seven-game point streak snapped on Saturday, the Canes hoped the two days in between games would allow some of their ailments to heal before facing the Western Conference's best team. Anchored by the best goalie and one of the best forward lines in the league, the Canes sought to sour out of Winnipeg with two points against the Jets. 

Scoring Summary

1st Period

WPG (19:18)- Nino Neiderreiter (14) PP (Alex Iafallo (11) & Vladislav Namestnikov (14))

2nd Period

WPG (3:13)- Neal Pionk (8) PP (Cole Perfetti (22) & Nino Niederreiter (15))

3rd Period

WPG (16:19)- Rasmus Kupari (5) (Mason Appleton (10) & David Gustafsson (4))

My Thoughts

Writing this one Wednesday morning, I've had a few hours to sleep on last night's game and there are two things that immediately stand out about the 60 minutes we watched. First, the Winnipeg Jets are an incredibly good. This is the closest to a Cup contender they've been in years and it's seemingly out of nowhere. They kept the Hurricanes from finding their game all night without their top line doing much of anything. Scheifele, Connor, and Vilardi combined for two shots. The damage was done by their second power play unit, who scored two of their three goals. They also got an incredible performance from their backup goalie, Eric Comrie, who made 29 stops to shut out the Canes. As much as it kills me, we might just need to tip our caps to the Jets for a completely dominant 60-minute effort. 

Technically, the Hurricanes scored a goal against Comrie, getting a power play tally late in the first period that was overturned due to goalie interference by Mikko Rantanen. I've watched the play two dozen times. By the letter of the rule, it's the correct call. Rantanen being in the paint prevented Comrie from extending his blocker because his stick gets entangled in Rantanen's torso. However, the reason everyone is so upset, myself included, is because the rule egregiously ignores Neal Pionk's role in forcing and keeping Rantanen in the crease. I strongly believe that Rantanen is trying to avoid the crease before Pionk makes contact, but he can't because of Pionk, thus creating the contact. Essentially, the rule encourages defenders to force guys into the crease to make contact with their goalies. I won't go so far as to say the overturned goal is the reason the Canes lost, or that the overturned goal changes the outcome of the game. However, it's another shining example of the league confusing its fans by not remaining consistent in its goalie interference calls.

I've never fancied myself as someone who cares too much about roster decision and player deployment. I don't get paid to make those decisions nor does it affect my paycheck and employment status. However, I had a small concern last night. Scott Morrow was called up to make his season debut in Winnipeg and was only on the ice for 10:42. I know that he was the seventh defenseman for the game, so he wasn't going to get a ton of playing time, but I would've liked to see him get more of a look. Judged purely on the eye test, I didn't think he played terribly. He had two shots and drew a penalty in Winnipeg's offensive zone. He didn't stand out by any means, but he wasn't bad either. If this is the same group deployed against Minnesota, I'd like to see him get more time. Try him on the power play a little. 

Speaking of Thursday, if this doesn't light a fire in this group, I don't know what will. Winnipeg is a great team, but the Canes have thrived against good teams this season. They were outplayed in just about every area tonight despite it being a relatively close contest on paper. Minnesota will be without two of its best players. The Canes, while likely feeling the after-effects of the locker room bug, have no reason not to go into their meeting with the Wild and go insane. If they have another rough effort heading into Saturday, there might be trouble brewing.

When We Meet Again- A little over a month from now, the Jets will fly to Raleigh for the return bout in the season series. It'll be the second of a four-game homestand in early March for the Hurricanes.

The Road Ahead- The Canes will head to the State of Hockey on Thursday night for their final battle with the Minnesota Wild this season. Minnesota will be without Kirill Kaprizov and, most likely, Ryan Hartman after being handed a ten-game suspension for an incident involving Tim Stutzle over the weekend. The final game before the break will be Saturday in Raleigh when the team hosts Utah.