Canes Corner | Carolina Hurricanes podcast from 99.9 The Fan

The Canes spotted the Oilers a 2-goal lead after 40 minutes -- just like they did in October in the 1st meeting -- but this time they couldn't get the second goal and lost, 3-1.  The Hurricanes went 1 for 4 on the power play, the first 3 of those coming in the 1st period.  On their first try, they allowed a shorthanded goal when Adam Henrique' was able to get to the front of the net and redirect the puck past Frederik Andersen.  Carolina did get a Sebastian Aho power play goal in the 3rd period to make the score 2-1.  But, they couldn't find their way to a second goal as Mikko Rantanen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jack Roslovic each had great chances to even the score.  Then, inside the final minute, Aho took a pass from Seth Jarvis and was in alone on Edmonton's Calvin Pickard, but his breakaway chance was denied by a great blocker side save and the Canes went on to lose for the 6th time in their last 8 games.  

Canes have a "whale" of a time in 5-2 win over Buffalo. 

The Canes lost their 2nd straight game, 4-0, in Montreal. Carolina fell behind 2-0 after the first period, then allowed power play goals in both the 2nd and 3rd periods in the loss. The Hurricanes are 3-5-1 since the acquisitions of Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall. They've scored just 22 goals in those 9 games and 7 of them came against Utah in the final game before the 4 Nations Face Off break. 

The Canes gave up three goals within the first 7 minutes of the first period and went on to loe, 6-3, to the Maple Leafs in Toronto.   In Carolina's first game coming after the 4 Nations Faceoff break they played like a team that hadn't seen each other in two weeks.  Poor decisions, worse puck management and a lack of precision added up to a 4-0 deficit after 20 minutes.  That the Canes scored three times in a 2:41 span of the 3rd period to give themselves a chance to steal something -- ANYTHING -- out of this game is a borderline miracle.  But, after Jaccob Slavin swept in a rebound to make it 4-3 with just under 5 minutes remaining, Mikko Rantanen passed up Carolina's last best chance to score passing into a crowded crease rather than shoot from the right face off circle.  In fairness, Rantanen, who did pick up an assist tonight for his 3rd point in 7 games with the Hurricanes, was probably Carolina's best forward tonight.  Shayne Gostisbehere scored his first goal since December 10 off a feed from Sebastian Aho for Carolina's first goal of the night.  Andrei Svechnikov and Slavin had the others.  Pyotr Kochetkov allowed 4 goals on 21 shots.

Seth Jarvis had two goals and two assists as the Canes beat Utah, 7-3, in the final game before the Four Nations Face Off winter break.  Jarvis dominated the 2nd period, scoring once on the power play, creating the play for the first of two Sebastian Aho goals, and then feeding him for a shorthanded marker that made the score 4-2 late in the period.  Then, just before the end of the frame, he took a pass from Jackson Blake and beat Utah goalie Karol Vejmelka on a breakaway for a 5-2 lead.  Jarvis and Aho each were a +4 on the night.  Jalen Chatfield had a goal and an assist.  Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake each had two helpers.  Pyotr Kochetkov made 36 saves in the win.  

The Canes scored a goal, Sebastian Aho's 18th of the season, but they still fell short in a 2-1 loss to the Wild. The Canes gave up an early goal in the 1st and 3rd periods to fall behind, 2-0. But, even with nearly 40 shots on Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson, they could muster the Aho goal, which came with their net empty in the final 3 minutes of regulation. Aho, Mikko Rantanen and Jackson Blake combined for 13 scoring chances - including the latter's penalty shot opportunity in the 2nd period - but it wasn't until the Canes had the extra attacker that they were able to break through. 

The Canes dropped their second straight game, 3-0, in Winnepeg. The Jets scored twice on the power play while the Hurricanes went 0 for 2 with the man advantage in the loss. But, to show you how close the game was to going in Carolina's direction, Jackson Blake scored on the Canes' first power play only to have the goal waived off for goalie interference. Then, on Carolina's second power play, Mikko Rantanen hit the post from the top of the crease and that is the anatomy of a shutout. Pyotr Kochetkov made 27 saves in the loss. 

The Canes didn't make the most of a good early start and fell, 4-2, to the Kings.  The loss snapped their 7-game points streak.  Jesperi Kotkaniemi got the Hurricanes on the board first with a deflection of Sean Walker's point drive with a little less than 5 minutes remaining in the first period.  But, Dimitry Orlov's turnover went right to L-A's Phillip Daneault, who's shot beat Frederik Andersen to tie the game.  Orlov was on the ice for 3 of the 4 Kings goals, and didn't play the last 8:20, after Kevin Fiala's second goal of the game made it 4-2.  Eric Robinson's 12th goal of the season drew the Canes within a goal early in the 3rd, but they would get no closer.  

Seth Jarvis scored shorthanded, Jaccob Slavin put on a clinic, and the Moose got loose for his first goal with the Hurricanes. The Canes defeated Chicago, 3-2. Mikko Rantanen's first goal with his new team gave Carolina a 2-1 lead early in the 2nd period. Then, just 1:07 later, Jaccob Slavin's rebound try of a Jackson Blake bid extended the Hurricanes' lead to 2-goals and they hung on for the win. Juha Jaaska had his first multi-point NHL game, assisting on the Jarvis goal - his 20th of the season and 3rd while shorthanded. Carolina played the game with just 17 skaters as Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall each stayed home with whatever illness has been permeating through the Carolina dressing room. Ryan Suzuki, the Canes' 1st round pick in 2019, was called up from Chicago and made his NHL debut. Due to the salary cap, the Hurricanes could not call up another player. Pyotr Kochetkov made 18 saves for his 19th win of the year. 

Frederik Andersen stopped 22 shots and Andrei Svechnikov scored twice as the Canes blanked the Rangers at the Garden, 4-0. Svechnikov scored 56 seconds into the game and then made it 2-0 with 31 seconds left in the 2nd period. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis added goals early in the 3rd period. Taylor Hall and Mikko Rantanen each had a primary assist on Svechnikov's goals. It was the 3rd straight win for the Hurricanes over the Rangers this year. New York is 0-9 on the power play against Carolina. 

The Canes jumped out to a 2-0 lead on early first period goals from Jack Roslovic and Sebastian Aho, but failed to score after that and lost in overtime to the Islanders, 3-2.  Pyotr Kochetkov made 23 saves in the loss.  The game saw the Hurricanes debuts for Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall, who were each acquired via trade Friday night.  They each played well, though neither factored in on any scoring plays.

The Carolina Hurricanes delivered the first major deal of the NHL season acquiring 2-time 100-point scorer Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury as well a 2025 2nd round draft pick and a 2026 4th rounder.  It's a complicated deal that involed the Chicago Blackhawks, who agreed to assume half of Rantanen's $9.25 million salary AND send Carolina former 1st overall pick Taylor Hall.  Chicago receives a 3rd round pick in 2025 in return.  Oddly enough, it was their own 3rd round selection that they traded to Carolina in a 2024 draft deal.  

The Canes spotted Columbus a 2-0 lead after the first period, but scored 5 straight times in the second period and went on to win, 7-4. After Kent Johnson and Karil Marchenko took advantage of Carolina turnovers to put the Jackets ahead after one, the Hurricanes came out with nostrils flaring in the middle period. Seth Jarvis tapped in a Sebastian Aho pass for a power play goal. Then Jarvis found Eric Robinson in transition to bring the game even with more than 7 minutes gone in the frame. Jackson Blake scored off a face off 47 seconds later. Then, Carolina's rookie forward stole the puck from Columbus' star Zach Werenski, dropped it for Aho, who whistled a wrist shot through for a 4-2 lead. Those three goals came in a 1:22 span. Jordan Martinook closed out Carolina's 2nd period output off a great pass from Jarvis. Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored his 4th goal in the last 3 games in the 3rd period and Jarvis would add an empty net tally for the final total. Jarvis had his first ever 4-point game. Aho had a goal and 2 assists. Blake, Jordan Staal and Martin Necas each had 2 points. Frederik Andersen, who has now won 5 straight starts for the Canes, picked up the 300th win of his career. 

The Canes rode Pyotr Kochetkov and Jesperi Kotkaniemi to a 2-1 win in Dallas. Kotchetkov steered 22 shots and Kotkaniemi had his first 2-goal game of the season in the win. The first goal came after Eric Robinson created a turnover in the offensive zone. The second resulted from his net front presence as a rebound caromed off his skate and came 24 seconds after the Stars tied the game at 1-1 midway through the 3rd period. It was the first time in a month that the Hurricanes have won 3 consecutive games. The win moved Carolina 3 points in front of New Jersey for 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division and the Hurricanes still have a game in hand over the Devils. Washington, who also won Tuesday night, remains on top with 69 points. Martin Necas had two assists in the win and Sean Walker created the game-winning goal with a drive to the net that resulted in Kotkaniemi's game winner off his skate. 

The Canes gave up the first goal just 43 seconds into the game and lost, 4-2 in Buffalo. That goal set the tone for the game as the Hurricanes really never got anything going offensively. Andrei Svechnikov had a breakaway chance in the early part of the 2nd period that he failed to convert and that proved costly as Dylan Cozens scored off a Jaccob Slavin turnover at the other end to make it 2-0. Then, Ryan McLeod's second goal of the game, with just over 3 seconds left in the period, made it 3-0. Jaccob Slavin and Martin Necas would give the Hurricanes a chance with 3rd period goals, but the Sabres made it 4-2 with an empty net goal that was awarded when Brent Burns committed a penalty as McLeod was attempting to score. McLeod registered his first career hat trick. Dustin Tokarski gave up 3 goals in the loss. 

For 50 minutes the Canes couldn't figure out a way through Lukas Dostal and the Ducks.  Then Andrei Svechnikov scored on the power play and Seth Jarvis got the equalizer with less than a minute to play in regulation to at least get the Hurricanes to overtime.  But, Cutter Gauthier's second goal of the game gave Anaheim the overtime win.  Carolina failed in their attempt to win 3 in a row for the first time since before Thanksgiving when the beat the Senators, St Louis and Philadelphia November 16, 17 and 20th, respectively.  Pyotr Kochetkov allowed 3 goals on 20 shots.

Jordan Staal scored for the 3rd straight game and Dustin Tokarski recorded his first shutout with the Hurricanes as Carolina beat the Canucks, 2-0. It was the second straight win for the Canes who have now won consecutive games for the first time since December 15th (Columbus) and 17th (NY Islanders).  Andrei Svechnikov scored his 14th goal of the season in the second period on a gorgeous individual play coming out of the corner to the right of the Vancouver net as he extends his point streak to 4 straight. Tokarski stopped 14 shots in the win, his 4th in 5 starts for Carolina.

In honor of the team retiring Eric Staal's number 12, teammates, close friends, and broadcasters tell us why Eric Staal was such a special player and person. From an 18-year old rookie, through a stint in the minor leagues to the Captaincy, Eric Staal also sparked a Shock at the Rock. If you are a Caniac, you will love this look back! 

The Canes fell behind 2-0 for the second straight game. And, for the second straight game, ended up winning. This time they win it 6-3, thanks to a Jordan Staal hat trick. Sunday, against the Penguins, they needed overtime. But that 2-0 deficit was well-earned on the part of Carolina. So many players struggled to make plays that you could have played Yakkety Sax in the background. It had a very strong Benny Hill feel to it. Eric Robinson's 10th goal of the season, however, was the most critical piece of tonight's puzzle. His goal, off a rebound of a Ty Smith point shot, gave the Hurricanes hope after a dreadful start. And, when Andrei Svechnikov found Staal in front with 17 seconds after Robinson's marker, the Captain brought the game level. Staal's hat trick was the 5th of his career and the second with the Canes. Jackson Blake's 9th goal of the season ends up being the winner. That is his 5th, tying him with Martin Necas for 1st on the team. Pyotr Kochetkov was excellent tonight, stopping 30 Toronto shots. 

The Canes fell behind Tampa Bay twice, responded with game-tying goals twice, but couldn't recover from Brayden Point's 24th goal of the season. Point's game winner, with less than 1 minute to play in the 3rd period, was the only blemish on an otherwise great performance by Pyotr Kochetkov. Carolina's goaltender made 31 saves, several of them at point blank range, but couldn't prevent Point's game-winner from sending the Hurricanes home with nothing to show for a game effort. Andrei Svechnikov snapped a 9-game goal drought with a 2nd period goal. Jordan Staal scored midway through the 3rd to tie the game at 2. 

Sebastian Aho's 13th goal of the season gave the Canes a 4-3, overtime win over Pittsburgh and capped a rally from a 2-0 firsst period deficit.  Aho's 3rd point of the night was the 600th of his career and helped wash away the taste of being shut out Saturday night by the Minnesota Wild.  Seth Jarvis, who came in having scored just once in his last 13 games, buried a pair (10th and 11th) in the 2nd period as the Canes scored 3 times to turn a 2-deficit into a 3-2 lead entering the third.  Jalen Chatfield's 4th goal of the year tied the game at 2.  Dustin Tokarski made 16 saves for his 3rd win in 4 starts for the Hurricanes.

The Canes lost, 4-0, at home to the Minnesota Wild Saturday night.  The game really started off poorly as Carolina was given a 4-minute power play early in the first period.  But, they did nothing with it, generating just one shot on goal and it wasn't even a deemed a scoring chance by the analytics community.  The Canes two best chances to score in the entire game came just a few minutes apart as Sebastian Aho set up Seth Jarvis in front of Filip Gustavsson, but the Minnesota goaltender turned both aside.  Pyotr Kochetkov made 24 saves in the loss.  The Hurricanes have not won consecutive games since December 15 (Columbus) and 17 (NY Islanders).

Pyotr Kochetkov was the game's first star as the Canes beat the Panthers, 3-1, in Florida. Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin scored goals for Carolina and Martin Necas iced the game into the empty net with 28 seconds left. Burns' goal came just 35 seconds into the game as his shot banked off Florida captain Alexsander Barkov and went past Sergei Bobrovsky. Then Slavin broke a 1-1 tie at 12:30 of the 3rd when he deposited a rebound of a Scott Walker drive from the right point. The whole play made possible by Jesperi Kotkaniemi's middle lane drive in which he was upended and sent into the crease - and forcibly held there - by Florida's Matthew Tkachuk. Kotchetkov made 25 saves in the win. 

The Canes lost a 3rd period lead in Columbus and ended up losing in a shootout for the second time this year.  This time the score was 4-3 and the Hurricanes actually had a lead in the shootout through an Andrei Svechnikov goal.  But, Pyotr Kochetkov couldn't stop Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli and when Sebastian Aho failed to extend to a 5th round the Jackets had their second shootout win over Carolina this year.  Ty Smith scored his first goal with the Hurricanes -- on the power play -- in the 1st period.  Jack Roslovic and Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored 2:31 apart in the second period to put the Canes in front.  Aho finished with two assists and now has 40 points in 37 games.