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Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Takeaways from Shutout by Blue Jackets

By Omar Abdelgawad

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 15: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) deflects a shot from Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 15, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 15: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) deflects a shot from Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 15, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 15: Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) battles with Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 15, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 15: Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) battles with Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 15, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Andrei Svechnikov is the real deal.

If there was a player that attempted to make an impact and almost opened the scoring on Bobrovsky several times, it was Andrei Svechnikov. He battled hard for every puck and tried to take the game to Columbus several times last night. Had he managed to score he would have been one of the three stars in my book.

He almost did manage the score last night on a power move that had him cut in front of a Blue Jacket defender with the puck only millimeters away from Bobrovsky who managed to shut it down at the last second denying the young Russian rookie his 18th goal of the season. That attempt alone was the best scoring chance of the night for the Carolina Hurricanes. They will need Andrei Svechnikov to do more of that in the coming weeks.

There is no secret to the fact that the 18 year old second overall pick has gained the confidence of his coaches. Even after the return of Micheal Ferland to the roster, he was allowed to remain on the second line with Jordan Staal receiving 15:13 of ice time and finishing the game with a zero plus minus.

While I don’t put much value in the plus minus system they can be telling in a shutout game to which forwards were putting more time in the offensive zone. Andrei finished the game with 3 of the 46 shots on goal tied for fourth most in that game along with several of his teammates. He also has found his physical game as well, scoring three hits which ties him for most in that game.

Andrei continues to grow his game, last night was indicative of that. Even with a loss like that, he manages to shine through. While other rookies have better numbers than him this year, practically stealing away a Calder award that I believe he has earned, he will be a force in the league for a lot longer than them. Look for him in another 15 years from now still playing for the Carolina Hurricanes with a little grey in his hair, missing a tooth or two and perhaps a scraggly beard that makes pictures of him taken today completely unidentifiable to the man he will become.

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