"A Whale of a Night": 2025-26 Regular Season, Game 7: Carolina Hurricanes at Colorado Avalanche

We're kicking it old school on Thursday night as the Hartford Whalers battle the Quebec Nordiques. That's not a sentence that I thought I'd ever say, but here we are. The Canes, wearing their Whalers whites, touched down in Denver for the penultimate stop on their six-game journey. With the Colorado Avalanche wearing their throwback Quebec jerseys, the two sides took it back to the days of the Adams Division, meeting in these colors for the first time since 1995. With plenty of history between the two sides and an immense amount of firepower between these two teams, it was certain to be a fun night of hockey.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (3:07)- Eric Robinson (3) (Jesperi Kotkaniemi (2) & Mike Reilly (3))

COL (4:04)- Valeri Nichushkin (3) (unassisted)

CAR (7:17-SH)- Seth Jarvis (7) (unassisted)

CAR (12:41)- Sebastian Aho (3) (Nikolaj Ehlers (2) & Seth Jarvis (4))

CAR (13:40)- Logan Stankoven (2) (Jackson Blake (4) & Taylor Hall (3))

2nd Period

COL (4:46)- Parker Kelly (1) (Sam Malinski (3) & Ross Colton (2))

3rd Period

COL (4:45)- Martin Necas (6) (Artturi Lehkonen (6) & Nathan MacKinnon (5))

COL (14:49-PP)- Valeri Nichushkin (4) (Victor Olofsson (4) & Cale Makar (6))

Overtime

None

Shootout

CAR- Seth Jarvis

My Thoughts

There is no one on this planet that thought the Carolina Hurricanes were going to come out of the gates the way they did. Against one of the hottest goalies to start the season, they made Scott Wedgewood look painfully average in the first period, chasing him after four goals in 13:40. Two of the goals I can't put on Wedgewood, both coming from the Canes' top line. Seth Jarvis's short-handed breakaway was simply beautiful, and Sebastian Aho's goal was a tough bounce. Eric Robinson's opening marker might've been the most egregious of the bunch, with the fourth-line winger picking the short-side corner on Wedgewood, who had a seemingly good angle to stop the shot. It was setting up to be a great night in Denver for the Whalers, but that good start didn't last.

After Colorado made the goalie switch, they responded accordingly. The absolutely dominated the second period, outshooting the Canes, 16-5. However, they only struck once in the middle frame, on a goal that doesn't feel like it should've counted. For context, Sam Malinski shot one from the near-side boards that Parker Kelly redirected past Andersen. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to have gone off his glove, seeing as his stick was tied up. The Hurricanes challenged the call on the ice for a missed stoppage, which many assumed was for the glove play. Instead, it was for a potential high stick about 15-17 seconds earlier. That's why everyone was so upset when the goal stood, and the Canes were assessed a penalty for delay of game. On the play, it looks like Kelly deliberately tries to reach for the puck, as if he wants to catch it. Instead, it hits his hand and goes into the net. To me, this shouldn't have counted. Even if it isn't challengeable, I would think the officials on the ice would've done something about it. Kelly might not have intended for it to go in off his glove, but it definitely looked like he was trying to use his glove to do something with the puck.

There is no talking about this game without addressing the brilliance Frederik Andersen displayed on Thursday night. Holy cow was he magnificent. This win doesn't happen without what he did. Colorado was relentless, especially during that middle frame. Andersen stood on his head. It starts with his work short-handed. Poor Victor Olofsson is going to have nightmares about all of his missed chances in this game. Andersen always looked a step ahead of the play, especially when the Canes were down a man. Even when they were up a man, Andersen had to be ready. His two most consequential stops of the night came on the Canes' first power play, stopping Cale Makar on a breakaway and Josh Manson soon after. While Colorado managed to tie the game in the third, Andersen can hardly be at fault for it. In overtime made one more save on Olofsson before stopping three straight in the shootout to earn the second point. It was a masterclass, even if he allowed four goals in the process. 

The big concern for the Canes before, during, and after the game was all of the injured players they have as they head to Dallas. Along with Jaccob Slavin, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Pyotr Kochetkov, all of whom are at home recovering, the Canes were dealt another massive blow to the defense before the game. K'Andre Miller took warm-ups but was unable to go, allowing Joel Nystrom, who the team called up before the game, to make his NHL debut. Before the end of the first period, William Carrier suffered a lower-body injury, forcing him out for the remainder of the contest and shortening the bench to 11 forwards. Then, Eric Robinson was declared out before the start of the third period, shrinking it to 10 forwards. So, not only were the Canes playing with three rookie defensemen in the lineup, but they now had to protect a two-goal lead in the third period against one of the fastest teams in the league without a full collection of forwards. They failed to protect the lead, but they escaped with two points in the shootout. I can only imagine what this team will look like on Saturday, especially with Carrier, Robinson, and Miller likely out against the Stars.

First Star of the Game- Frederik Andersen

Frederik Andersen's 44 stops on Thursday were the most he's made since joining the Hurricanes. His previous high was 39 in a 5-4 win against the Los Angeles Kings in November 2021. He was the guiding light to victory tonight. Most importantly, he broke the shootout curse that has plagued this team for almost two years. 

Next Up: The Hurricanes finish the trip on Saturday in Dallas, facing Mikko Rantanen and the Stars for the first time since the blockbuster trade in March. What remains of the roster will fly back home to finish October at home, beginning with a revenge game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.