Exactly two weeks after last dropping the puck at the Lenovo Center, the Carolina Hurricanes welcomed the Boston Bruins to town for the first time as the best in the Metro met the best in the Atlantic. With two teams playing outstanding hockey clashing, a tight and fun contest was expected in Raleigh on Tuesday night.
After initially reporting that Taylor Hall would return to the lineup, he left Tuesday's pregame skate before its conclusion, and he wasn't on the ice for warm-ups. Instead, Mark Jankowski, whom we didn't expect to play, returned after missing the final four games of the road trip. Pyotr Kochetkov and Jeremy Swayman were in the nets tonight in a battle of two of the league's best to start the season.
It didn't take long for the Bruins to break the seal, with Pavel Zacha scoring on the power play 91 seconds into the game. However, the Canes played a good, albeit slightly undisciplined period. We got a heavyweight tilt between Nicolas Deslauriers and Tanner Jeannot, and Jackson Blake, who took two penalties, eventually got the Canes even in the final minute, tying the game at one after 20.
The Hurricanes controlled most of the second period, but Swayman kept them in check for another 20 minutes. The puck was in the Boston end for most of the action, though nothing found the back of the net. The Bruins had one very good push near the end of the period. Jesperi Kotkaniemi saved a goal after Kochetkov made the initial stop, sweeping the puck off the line to ensure they stayed tied.
The third period was a testament to how cruel hockey can be. A bad turnover allowed Matthew Poitras a chance to take the lead, and he had Kochetkov dead to rights. With the net wide open, he threw his backhand off the iron. Shortly after, Sebastian Aho poked a chance through Swayman, giving the Canes their first lead. They refused to let it go, holding on for dear life to win, 2-1.
The Canes' penalty kill pushed the team over the finish line
It wasn't an ideal start to the night for the Hurricanes and their penalty kill. Andrei Svechnikov took a penalty 61 seconds into the game. 30 seconds later, on the first shot, Pavel Zacha tapped a pass home from former Hurricane Elias Lindholm. After two weeks away from home, the Canes were behind almost immediately.
Fortunately, the night got better for the group, but it wasn't without its hairy moments at the end. After two successful kills throughout the remainder of the opening period, Jordan Martinook was called for offensive-zone interference with a little under five minutes left in the game. The group dug in and got the job done, despite a few very good chances.
The Canes weren't out of the woods yet. Right after the kill, Sebastian Aho sat for tripping, putting the penalty kill in another tough spot. The prospect of Jeremy Swayman heading to the bench for the extra attacker loomed throughout the power play, and while the Bruins got him to the bench quickly, they failed once more. It was an encouraging game for the group after how the night began.
In the biggest moments, the Canes' best forwards found the spark
Throughout the playoffs, Logan Stankoven's line scored the big goals to bring the team to life. Down a goal in the final minute of the first period tonight, that's the group that got the Canes back into it. They were the team's best line early, and they were finally rewarded. Nikolaj Ehlers provided pressure and forced a turnover. Jackson Blake powered it to the front of the net to score a pretty goal.
The rest of the night was dominated by the Hurricanes. The Bruins were held without a shot for over 20 minutes between the second and third periods, but Swayman refused to give them anything. You knew it was going to take a shot through loads of traffic, or something very grimy, to get a second one past him. Aided by some luck, the Canes' top line won them the game.
Two inches might've been the difference between the Canes winning and losing this game, but luck was on their side. 70 seconds after the Bruins hit the post, the top trio all touched the puck. Svechnikov got it into the slot. William Carrier slowed it down. Aho lifted it through Swayman. It certainly wasn't the prettiest goal, but it's one that the Canes deserved. It proved to be the difference.
Kochetkov adds another win, pulling into a tie for a franchise record
Throughout ESPN's broadcast tonight, Ray Ferraro made a point to mention several times that Pyotr Kochetkov hasn't faced 25 shots in a game this season. The way the defense in front of him was playing, there was no chance that Boston would get there tonight. Kochetkov faced seven shots in the first period before seeing just two for the entirety of the second period.
Playing against a goalie as hot as Swayman, especially when he's standing on his head at the other end, that lack of action can really get to you. I'm not convinced that much fazes Kochetkov. He had one scary moment in the second period when Jesperi Kotkaniemi helped him out, but that was about it for most of the contest. He got some action late in the third, and he was up to the challenge.
Kochetkov made 14 straight saves after allowing the early goal, improving to 8-0-0 and momentarily taking the lead for the most wins in the NHL. He also matched former teammate Frederik Andersen's start to the 2021-22 season, tying him for the best start to a season in franchise history. I'm not sure I can recall a better stretch of hockey for him, and the team is benefiting nicely from it.
Add us as a preferred source on Google