Recap of Calgary Flames vs Carolina Hurricanes

Looking to close out the homestead with a win, the Carolina Hurricanes are unable to outplay Johnny Hockey

What a great day to be at the PNC arena for a Carolina Hurricanes game.  The pre-game started with the US army color guard marching with the American flag.  The 82^nd airborne performed the national anthem with the all American chorus, and Amanda Bell sang the Canadian National anthem.

What a great way to get this Sunday afternoon game started out with a lot of American pride and the Canes wearing their black 3^rd alternate uniforms.  Maybe someday the Canes can wear the pre-game camo jersey.  As the game goes the Canes started out with Eddie Lack getting his second start.  Obviously a reward for his play in Friday night’s shutout.

Related Story: Carolina vs. Ottawa

First Period

The Carolina Hurricanes start out fast, playing off the momentum of Friday’s night game and draw the first power play.  The refs called Calgary’s Sam Bennett for holding on Jordan Staal.  Canes begin the PP with clean passing and quickly get results with a Victor Rask goal at the 15:06 mark.  Then again at the 13:02 the Canes draw a 2^nd PP.   The refs send Alex Chiasson to the box for elbowing.  This time the Canes had a harder time getting things going and have only one good opportunity by Elias Lindholm.

Canes should have had another goal later in the period.  If it wasn’t for Matt Stajan’s helmet, Faulk would have scored with a slapshot.  Stajan though somehow kept the puck out of the net.  From there on, the teams trade shots and the period ends with shots at 9-9.  Canes played a hard 1^st but Eddie Lack much like Friday night was shaky by giving up some juicy rebounds and the Canes young D lead by Hanifin gave Calgary 10 takeaways for the period.

Second Period

The first five minutes of the 2^nd resembled a 1^st period feeling out process normally seen at the beginning of a playoff series.  Both teams combined for only 5 shots on goal. Only things really noteworthy was Derick Ryan with one real nice blast and Ryan Murphy with another real bad

More from Cardiac Cane

• 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase: Takeaways from the Canes’ Strong Showing in Florida
• Week Two Coverage Of College Hockey In NC
• Derek Stepan Ends His On Ice Career As A Hurricane
• The Southeast Rookie Showcase Will Be a Good Look at Carolina’s Future
• Noesen Ready To Provide Depth For Canes

offensive giveaway.

As the period continued things picked up and although the canes were taking the offense the Flames, Calgary catches a break with a breakaway by Micheal Ferland with a real nice assist by John Hockey (Johnny Gaudreau) at the 13:55 mark.  By the halfway mark, Caniacs were wondering where the team from the 1^st period went.  Canes couldn’t seem to muster any type of offense and Eddie Lack was having to start becoming the man to keep the Canes in this one.

As the second half of the period was going along with not much happen the Flames start pressing the offensive zone when a pass is blocked off Bret Pesce’s skate right to the Flame’s Johnny Hockey and he puts the puck right through the five hole of Eddie Lack at the 5:10 mark. Calgary up 2-1.  After that goal, the Canes not being happy with themselves wake up a little and finally starting showing some offense with one really good opportunity by Sabastian Aho but Calgary’s Brian Elliott makes a great save to keep the Flames up by one.  The 2^nd period ends with the Canes down by one.  Shot 19-22 Canes favor.

Third Period

The 3^rd started slow but the Canes picked it up during the first 5 minutes.  The Canes kept the pressure up.  Skinner had a couple of good chances, but Calgary’s Elliott was up to the task. Canes continue to keep the play for the most part and then at the halfway mark of the period the Canes put together a nice rally lead by the nonexistent Jordan Staal.  Calgary’s Elliott keeps his composure and the Canes come out of it with nothing.

Then at the 8:55 mark, Calgary skated down the ice on one of its sporadic moments of offense and Johnny Hockey gets his second of the game off a deflected shot that hits Bret Pesce under the arm and Eddie lack can’t keep up with the deflection to make it 3-1.  From that moment on, Calgary was content with the score and played mainly defensive hockey. Canes pull Lack at the 2:00 mark of the game and show good pressure but to no avail as the Canes go down in Flames 3-1.

Next: What should the Hurricanes do with all their Draft picks?

The Canes outworked the Flames for the most part of the whole game but just couldn’t get the puck in the net.  I saw good things from all four lines, but all it took was one good line from the Flames to get the job done.  Canes head to Florida Tuesday to face the Panthers but the big question is going to be who is in the lineup.  Keep up with the Cardiac Canes for all this week’s trade information.