Second Period Surge Not Enough As The Carolina Hurricanes Fall To The Vancouver Canucks

The Carolina Hurricanes played the Vancouver Canucks Sunday afternoon. The Canes fell to the Canucks 3-2 in the matinee. A slow first period and bad powerplays led to the Canes loss to the Canucks.

Scoring Summary

It didn’t take long for the Canucks to score first. Ryan Kesler knocked home a rebound on the 5-on-3, 3:24 into the hockey game. Jason Garrison and Henrik Sedin were credited with the assists, and the goal made it 1-0.

The Canucks controlled the first period, and Tom Sestito made it 2-0. Jason Garrison put the shot on net from the left point. Sestito then deflected it in past Cam Ward. Sestito ran into Ward on the play, and the 30-year-old wanted goaltender interference. Jason Garrison and Zac Dalpe got the assists on the goal that came at 15:48 of period one.

Jordan Staal put the Carolina Hurricanes on the board 39 seconds into period two. There was a scrum in front of Vancouver goalie Eddie Lack, and Jordan Staal jammed a rebound home to make it 2-1. The assists went to Ron Hainsey and Patrick Dwyer.

Ten seconds later, the Carolina Hurricanes were celebrating once again. Nathan Gerbe put one past Lack 49 seconds into the second period. Eric Staal did a great job driving towards the net with the puck. In the process, Staal took a defenseman out of the play, and Eddie Lack was left out of position. Gerbe then threw it on net, and it got past Lack.  Eric Staal and Justin Faulk were credited with the assists on Gerbe’s sixth of the season.

Ryan Kesler delivered what would turn out to be the game-winning goal 1:16 into the second period. Kesler put a rebound just over the goal line, and put Vancouver up 3-2. Assists went to Janik Hansen and Chris Higgins.

FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Canucks- 3, Carolina Hurricanes- 2.

Game Recap

The Carolina Hurricanes had an abysmal first period. They had a total of six minutes worth of power play time in the first period. They could not capitalize on the man advantage, and the Canucks left the first period up 2-0.

The power play was the real problem for the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes were 0-6 on the afternoon on the power play. That is  unacceptable, and Kirk Muller knows it.

“Maybe there are some players that just can’t make the plays.”-Kirk Muller

Kirk Muller showed a lot of frustration with his team and with his powerplay. He also said that if players don’t start stepping up, changes will be made. Take that as you’d like, but it appears that their may be roster changes if the Canes don’t start playing better.

The Canes offense was virtually nonexistent in the first period. They can’t keep digging themselves wholes in the first period. They continue to do that, and they continue to lose games. They have to be a more solid team in the first period if they expect to be able to beat team like Vancouver. The Canes are 2-8-1 when they are trailing after the first period.

Justin Faulk extended his point streak to four games this afternoon with an assist on Nathan Gerbe’s second period goal. He has one goal and four assists over the four games. The streak ties a career-high.

Ron Hainsey extended his point streak to three games with an assist on Jordan Staal’s second period goal. The streak is a season-high for the defenseman.

Eric Staal has points in eight of his past nine games following his assist on Nathan Gerbe’s second period goal. He has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in that span.

Former Cane Zac Dalpe picked up his first point of the season Sunday afternoon with an assist on Tom Sestito’s goal.

The Carolina Hurricanes will be back in action Tuesday night in Washington. It will be an important Metropolitan Division showdown in the nation’s capital. Look for roster moves and trade rumors surrounding the Carolina Hurricanes over the next couple days as well. Once again, the Canucks beat the Hurricanes 3-2 at the PNC Arena.