3 takeaways from the win the Carolina Hurricanes stole from Calgary

I have no idea how the Carolina Hurricanes didn’t lose this game 4-1, but they didn’t. They won this game 2-1 in overtime in their third trip to the extra frame this year. It was a game that Carolina just refused to go away from. Whether it was defensive plays keeping the puck out of the net, the penalty kill doing what it was asked, or the goaltending answering the call, they did it.

Do not make this mistake, Carolina did not deserve to escape this game with anything in hand, but when they left Calgary, it was mainly down to their ability to pull pucks off the goal line when their netminder had been beaten. Defending was the principle that allowed the Canes. They were incredible in their own zone, and they stopped 3 dead goal-line pucks.

With Carolina’s top line and star talent leading the way, the Hurricanes were able to get off to a good start and score the first goal. Yes, they’d be pegged back later in the contest, but they got the better of the Flames early. It looked like they could really push to put out the flames until the curse of the former player reared its ugly head and two former Canes combined to get Calgary on the board.

With defensemen and forwards alike tumbling head over heal in the defensive end to get pucks off the goal line, the Canes withstood the pressure and ensured that they saw the task through. Goaltending played a big part as the Carolina Hurricanes got to OT shorthanded trying to take home the extra point.

When the Canes scored with less than a minute left in the extra session, there was no doubt this game was completely stolen from Alberta. While it wasn’t easy, the Canes got the result and that’s all that matters in the end. They move on to Edmonton next and a chance to see their 2006 Stanley Cup Finalist once again.