Hurricanes lost 3-2 to the Toronto St Pats on St Patricks day

A throwback jersey from the Toronto St Pats provided a throwback performance from the Carolina Hurricanes. Despite having the better of the play, they got shut down quickly by Toronto’s young netminder Erik Kallgren. With the inability to beat the underdeveloped Swedish netminder being the main downfall of the team, this was a game that the Canes just couldn’t keep up in.

Carolina just looked slower than the St Pats did all game long. None of the Canes could beat the St Pats to the puck, and the Canes just looked tired after the second goal against went in. It was not a vintage performance from Carolina. With this being the first half of a back-to-back, they need to get two points tomorrow at home against the Washington Capitals.

When we talk about this game, we need to acknowledge the Hurricanes’ inability to finish their chances. With the Carolina Hurricanes regressing to not being able to put the puck in the net consistently and relying heavily on scrambles and loose plays in front, it opens the team up to criticism about not being able to finish when they have those killer chances. Carolina could have had a hatful tonight, and they just could not beat a rather unknown netminder.

If you want to find a silver lining to take away from this game, look no further than the penalty kill. It was killing at an 89.4% success rate coming into this game and the all-time record is 89.6%.  They’re hunting a record and they may now be in a position to challenge that record, but that can change in a heartbeat.

Ethan Bear also got himself another goal. This is his second in four games, but this isn’t the game-winner that his goal against Colorado was. Bear is starting to show progress settling into the Carolina Hurricanes organization. He’s getting comfortable and game by game, he seems to be getting better. A goal in this one for the 2015 5th round pick shows he’s taking steps forward.

This is going to raise a lot of red flags as the team approaches the 2022 NHL Trade deadline. The team is known to be in the market for an LHD but this performance could force the team to go out and get a goal-scoring winger. They’re too unreliable in terms of goal scoring otherwise. It’s nothing against who’s on the team, it’s a statement about the ability to put the puck in the net.

Question for Cardiac Cane readers: What did you think about this game?