3 takeaways as Canes double Flyers up 6-3 at the Wells Fargo Center
In dramatic fashion, Carolina cap off their six-game road trip with a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. They return to Raleigh with a 4-1-1 record and take 9 of the possible 12 points on the road trip. A good road trip overall, but this game really capped it off in style. Considering this trip started with the Canes doubling up the Golden Knights, the symmetry was a nice touch I thought.
Anyway, the Hurricanes had gone 140 minutes without a goal from a forward heading into this game. All 6 goals from this one were tallied by the forwards. There were some beautiful goals in this one, but that’s not all of it. There was a lot of good to take away from this game, and a lot of highlight-reel plays. In fact, the only greasy goal I can think of is really the goal that made it 3-3.
Carolina put on an offensive clinic, and their goaltender got a lot better as the game went on to ensure that the Canes held their lead. It was another matinee mayhem performance for the Hurricanes and the team, but they found a way to ensure that it went the way that they needed it to. There were a LOT of goals in this game, and I could easily talk about them all, but I’m gonna limit it to 3 to not take all your free time.
Anyway, let’s get into the three takeaways from today’s matinee game. Carolina gets six goals, two points, and retakes their place atop the league standings. With the Washington Capitals beating the Florida Panthers, it means that Sunday’s game is a straight-up slogfest for the division lead. Anyway, they played Philadelphia tonight, so let us talk about this game before I get too far ahead of myself.
Sebastian dominates Philadelphia yet again
I said that the Hurricanes offensive scoring slump was going to require their star to drag them out of it, and Sebastian Aho was only too happy to drag the Canes out of it. Recording the first two goals of the night for Carolina in a game that his line utterly dominated, Aho built on his fantastic history against Flyers and dominated the Wells Fargo Center yet again.
Aho had two gorgeous snipes on the Flyers netminder to get the team level at both 1-1 and 2-2. Carolina’s star center was at the forefront of the organization’s most effective line. He was able to control the pace of the game after that and help build up the momentum that Carolina would ride through this game as they took two points out of the City of Brotherly Love.
It’s amusing how taking the 4th liner off his wing enables him to have the freedom to dominate. This is nothing against his linemates from the game against Seattle, but tonight, it looked more natural. It could be because of the Ahovainen reunification, or the Necaho connection. Either way, something went well for the Finnish center with those two on his wings.
He now has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 18 games. He leads the team in goals and points. He’s an alternate captain and ensures that the team generates enough offensive chances to get into each and every game. He’s able to get enough touches of the puck to create his own offense and give the team every chance to score. He’s the most important player to the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s invaluable.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is coming along nicely
When I say that all three of the Canes’ highest earners got on the board in this once, you know Aho and Svech did, so who was the other one? Yes, Jesperi Kotkaniemi had a multipoint night in this one. His goal was an absolute beauty and I will be sure to include it here just so you can have the honor of watching it again, but Kotkaniemi is starting to show flashes of brilliance.
TIC-TAC-TOE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/VTSH5gqwXU
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 26, 2021
This is a beautiful passing play that goes tic-tac-toe-goal and Kotkaniemi has the intelligence to not just loiter and drive the front of the net. He’s rewarded with a tap-in and a beautiful goal, and he’s now up to 4 goals and 6 points on the year. While this is still a slow start, he’s showing signs of coming to life. He’s looked fantastic since his move to the middle in the Vegas game.
He’s honestly looked rejuvenated and if that continues, there’s a good chance we could see Kotkaniemi play a game or two higher up the lineup to rest some of the important guys if they have bumps and bruises. Carolina’s center depth in that sense is incredible, and Kotkaniemi only makes them deeper. He’s been a good member of the Carolina Hurricanes and a worthwhile pick-up for the team to this point.
What Kotkaniemi will need to do is ensure that he doesn’t stop developing. In a league that is always getting tougher to play in, he can’t standstill. Practice whatever you want to, and what you’re good at to build your strengths and become an important part of the roster. KK thinks the game so well, that his intelligence should be considered his greatest asset. After all, a warrior’s greatest weapon is his mind.
Tony DeAngelo is filling the role he was asked to when he was signed
Carolina’s #77 is at the center of almost every fight within the fanbase for his off-ice views and actions in the past. While his previous actions do need to be condoned, what Tony DeAngelo has done for the Carolina Hurricanes on the ice has been nothing short of fantastic. He’s been sensational at both ends of the rink and had a multipoint night in this one to see him move back to a point per game.
He’s among the league’s best right now in terms of production from the blue line, and his scoring seems to be sustainable. Right now, he’s doing a lot of good for the Carolina Hurricanes on the backend despite making the fanbase argue and almost start a civil war. When you talk about DeAngelo, the one thing that you cannot say is that he is a bad hockey player. He’s one of the best scoring defensemen in the NHL.
Now, what has seemed to have changed regarding DeAngelo is his defensive frailties. Since his heavily publicized fallout with the New York Rangers and their dressing room, DeAngelo seems to have figured out his defensive concerns. He’s playing well in his own end, but this isn’t to say that he isn’t prone to making a bone-headed mistake when he is in his own zone. It just means he’s been better at making amends for it.
DeAngelo will divide the fanbase for as long as he is a Carolina Hurricane and probably longer. He’s been very effective on the ice, and he’s been able to control games from the blueline. He’s a very talented powerplay quarterback and just a fantastic hockey player. DeAngelo only makes $1 million this year, and it looks like one of the best deals in the NHL. Yes, there’s a reason he only makes $1 million, but he’s earning every penny on the ice.
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