Carolina Hurricanes Continue Point Streak with Big Win

Hurricanes dig deep into Florida for a big win

Carolina Hurricanes head to south Florida on a zig-zagging road trip. The Hurricanes extended their point streak to eight games with the win over Florida tonight.  The good news about this game is that no one lost their job. Couldn’t help but to make that plug, excuse me.

What I Watched For

After a real bad night for rookie Sebastian Aho in Philly, how would he rebound against Florida? Bill Peters placed Aho back on the wing and all Caniacs looked for him to turn it around.  Things didn’t go well for him in the 1^st when he gave up another penalty.

The Carolina Hurricanes killed the penalty, but the good feeling didn’t last long.  Aho was late on his coverage and the Panthers score the second goal of the game.  Things got better for Sebastian who remained positive and received a beautiful pass from Elias Lindholm for his 21st goal of the season.  After that Aho kept his head down and finished the game with 1g, 1a and a -2 for the night.

Fans wondered why Cam Ward started against the Panthers.  For some odd reason, although Eddie Lack has played outstanding of late and deserves the starts Coach Peters went with Ward again.

The first period did nothing to make the Caniacs any happier but as the game wore on Cam Ward made some really big saves.  In the end, Ward played well with 32 saves and came up big for the Hurricanes.

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The Game

My second question was answered right away, with not even a minute thirty off the clock, Cam Ward gives up the first goal.  Hello, Bill Peters… Caniacs calling.

Carolina comes back to life after the early goal and Teuvo Teravainen lights the lamp for the Hurricanes.

Nobody liked this goal by Reilly Smith from former Carolina Hurricane Jussi Jokinen especially Sebastian Aho.  A beautiful feed from Jokinen sets up Smith on the back door and the Panthers take the lead.

One thing you can say about Sebastian Aho, he sure knows how to make up for his mistakes with some really good help from fellow assist master Elias Lindholm.

The second period went the same as the first, Panthers pushing, and pushing.  Cam Ward gets help from the post but soon after Kieth Yandle helps Florida take the lead.

The line of Stempniak, Ryan, and Skinner go for the homerun when given a chance and Skinner picks up the garbage to tie it up at 3-3.

The Hurricanes were on their heels all of the third period.  Cam Ward was making some big saves when Derek Ryan and Jeff Skinner put the Canes in the lead with this goal.

The Final Word:

This game ended much like it started with a lot of tension.  Ward started the game shaky. Much of the 1^st the Hurricanes were on their heels.  Cam did get some really good breaks from his defense and the post.  Somehow the Carolina Hurricanes kept fighting their way back into this game.

Next: Hurricanes Stuck In No Man's Land

Both the second and third period followed the same template. Florida pushing, Canes surviving, Cam with a big save.  Finally, the line of Lee Stempniak, Derek Ryan and Jeff Skinner who were the key to tonight’s win came up big with the GWG.

I would like to give Jeff Skinner the 1st-star treatment but it would be unfair to his linemates.  Seeing it’s a tie for the first star tonight I will skip the second star and reward Cam Ward with the third star award for the game.