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3 keys to a win at home against the Ottawa Senators

By Conor Power

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 24: Brendan Smith #7 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken with Seth Jarvis #24 during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena on November 24, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 24: Brendan Smith #7 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken with Seth Jarvis #24 during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena on November 24, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 16: Antti Raanta #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a break during a stop in play in the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on November 16, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Hurricanes defeated the Golden Knights 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 16: Antti Raanta #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a break during a stop in play in the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on November 16, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Hurricanes defeated the Golden Knights 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Upping the Antti yet again for the Hurricanes

For this one, the Canes have elected to give the goaltender responsible for most of their hot start to the season a little break after his performances in Dallas and against Washington. With the Canes turning to Finnish netminder and a goalie who has largely played the backup role for the Carolina Hurricanes this season, Antti Raanta. It’s a time for the goalie to redeem himself after a tough performance in Philadelphia.

Raanta’s been somewhat meh this season. Recording a .903 save percentage in 5 games with a 2.36 goals-against average. What this means for Raanta is that the numbers do not favor him, but he’s shown himself to be a capable starter. If you remember his game against Philly, he did not start well but would come up big time for the Canes when they needed him later in the year.

Now, the team has turned back to the Finnish #32, and he will get a chance to go for the Canes against a very tricky opponent. Ottawa has some good offensive talents, so Raanta will not be able to pull up the chair and be a spectator for most of the game as the Canes often allow their goaltenders to do. It’s not a case of making saves early, seeing the puck, and being solid throughout.

Raanta isn’t assured of any time with the Canes this year. We’ve already seen a call-up from the Wolves get plugged in and win a game, and the other Wolves netminder is one of the best in all of the American Hockey League. For a cap-strapped team like Carolina, Raanta will need to prove he’s worth keeping around before he is replaced with a younger model, and he’ll get his chance at that tonight.

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