Canes trump Golden Knights comeback as they win in OT
This was a game that Carolina didn’t want to seem to win at one point, but in the end, they do indeed capture their result in the overtime frame. This was a very sloppy game from the Carolina Hurricanes, but it was a game in which they got two points. They don’t ask how at the end of the year, they ask how many. This win keeps the Canes floating towards the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
After scoring two goals in a minute during the second period, it seemed as if the Canes were just going to throw the game into cruise control. Carolina has gone through a patch recently where when they do eventually get the puck in the net, it happens multiple times in a short burst and this was the case again in the second with two goals in 57 seconds. It was a good show of dominance from the hosts.
Vegas got a controversial goal back, and this is really what I want to talk about. The no-goaltender interference call after the challenge on the first goal. Did Ian Cole really force the Knights player into the goaltender? In real-time, it looked like it was the Vegas player clean wiping out. Cole had better stick positioning than the Golden Knight and the Knight went over like a ton of bricks, wiping out the Canes netminder. I’m not sure it was the right call, although I understand it.
In the third, the Canes powerplay clicked and the 3-1 lead Carolina had would be wiped out by the Knights because we’re not allowed to have nice things. The game was increasingly getting chippy, and in OT we saw the wrestling match behind the Canes net that led to the draw coming out of the zone before we saw two stars do their thing, but it was a fun game.
In overtime, it was just clockwork. Andrei Svechnikov is first to a loose puck, draws two guys over, and spots a wide-open Sebastian Aho in the slot. With the freedom of Raleigh, Aho buries the shot and ends the game, looking like an exuberant school child during his celebrations, which we all enjoyed. We’re treated to another storm surge and another Canes’ victory hug.
Carolina was sloppy in this game and a healthy Knights roster would have made them pay. Granted, a healthy Golden Knights roster is 10 million over the cap, but Vegas was 20 million over the cap in the playoffs last year so you know it’s possible. Carolina needs to clean up the mistakes when they’re playing healthy, elite teams otherwise they will be beaten. It was a nice rebound game, but those mistakes need to go heading into the game in Ottawa.