Carolina Hurricanes: Jeff Skinner’s Heroics Lead Canes to Big Win

In one of the most entertaining games to date for the Carolina Hurricanes, the home team banded together and picked a big time 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators

A wild night in Raleigh ends with the Carolina Hurricanes coming together and picking up a very important win against the Ottawa Senators.

More from Cardiac Cane – Will the Canes Sign Eric Staal this Summer?

Scoring Summary

1st Period

OTT Goal (7:58) – Mark Stone (21), assisted by Scott Gomez (8)

The Sens struck first off a breakdown from Carolina in their own end. Ward went to play the puck behind the net, but he couldn’t tough it outside of the trapezoid. That put him out of position, leading Gomez getting the puck and setting up Stone in front.

OTT Goal (19:33) – Ryan Dzingel (3), assisted by Bobby Ryan (28)

Jordan Staal attempted to recover a loose puck in the Carolina zone, but he was pick-pocketed by Ryan, and he fed the puck to Dzingel who was able to beat Cam Ward along the right goal post.

2nd Period

CAR Goal (1:48) – Jeff Skinner (24), assisted by Phil Di Giuseppe (10), Ryan Murphy (6)

A strong push to the net from Skinner led to the puck getting back to Murphy at the point. He ripped a slaps shot wide, but it ricocheted to Di Giuseppe, who threw it on net, and Skinner was there to clean up the garbage in front.

CAR SHG (6:24) – Jay McClement (2), unassisted

Jay McClement showed off his strength to tie the game at two. McClement stole the puck at center ice, came in the zone with a full head of steam on the penalty kill, then drove to net and was able to tuck the puck in under Andrew Hammond‘s arm for his second goal of the season.

OTT SHG (19:25) – Zack Smith (19), assisted by Curtis Lazar (14)

The Sens bounced back with a shorthanded goal of their own. The Hurricanes got caught deep in the Ottawa zone, and Smith shot out of a cannon after receiving a pass from Lazar, and he sent a wrist shot through the legs of Cam Ward on the rush.

3rd Period

CAR Goal (19:59) – Jeff Skinner (25), assisted by Victor Rask (25), Ryan Murphy (7)

Jeff Skinner shows off how clutch he really is with a big goal in the dying second of regulation time. Skinner winded up and sent a blast past Hammond, and it crossed the goal line with .2 to go.

Overtime

No Goals

Shootout

OTT Goal – Mika Zibanijad (2nd round)

CAR Goal – Riley Nash (3rd round)

CAR Goal – Jaccob Slavin (4th round)

Three Stars

1st Star – Jeff Skinner, LW (CAR) – 2 goals, +1, 6 shots, 1 hit, 20:33 TOI

2nd Star – Zack Smith, C (OTT) – 1 goal, -1, 5 shots, 1 hit, 20:04 TOI

3rd Star – Ryan Murphy, D (CAR) – 2 assists, +2, 18:21 TOI

Recap

What a game. The Carolina Hurricanes found a way to come up big when it really mattered, and they were able to defeat the visiting Ottawa Senators by a final score of 4-3 in shootout.

The win was fueled by a big outing from Jeff Skinner. He got the Hurricanes on the board in the second period, and he sent a blistering slap shot into the net with just a fraction of a second to go in regulation time. He finished with six shots and a pair of goals in 20:33 of ice time, the most ice time he’s gotten since December 15.

It wasn’t a perfect start for Carolina. They were outshot 12-6 through 20 minutes and they found themselves down by two. Then, things really started to click for Carolina.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes dominated the final forty minutes of play, and they were put in a situation late where they could send the game to extra time, and they did.

This was a game that the Hurricanes stole. They had heart and they were relentless throughout the final two periods. This was yet another example where the Canes don’t give up. It’s the overarching narrative of this season – the Carolina Hurricanes may not be as talented as their opponents, but they don’t give up on a game, no matter where it’s at. It’s a young core of players who love playing together, and it’s only going to get better as time goes on and even more pieces are added.

Cam Ward continues his dominance against the Senators. He was in net for Carolina’s win over Ottawa in November, and despite letting in multiple soft goals, he made a big save in shootout to give Riley Nash an opportunity to tie it and Jaccob Slavin the opportunity to win it.

A trio of defensemen really stepped up for the Hurricanes – Jaccob Slavin, Ryan Murphy, and Michal Jordan.

Slavin skated a team-high 26:19 against the Senators, and he continues to do things that an average 21-year-old defenseman just doesn’t do. He played great with the puck on his stick, and he was a rock in his own end, making key plays with his stick that saved fantastic scoring chances for the Sens.

Murphy is just three games into his most recent call-up, but he is showing that he is continuing to take big steps forward. He logged a pair of assists and now has three points and a +3 rating since being recalled.

Jordan was quiet tonight, but he had an impressive outing. He was a game-high +3 player, and he played very well in his own end. He is a player whose game is slowly but surely improving as the season progresses. He is no longer a big liability on the blue line like he has been at many points in his still young NHL career.

The Carolina Hurricanes are now just four points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They just keep on fighting hard and playing for their lives out there, and who knows where it will take them come April.

Next: Hurricanes Sign College Star to an Entry-Level Contract

Next up, a matchup against the Boston Bruins. It will mark the start of a five-game road trip, a road trip that could make or break the team’s season.