The Carolina Hurricanes kicked off their final week before the break on Tuesday night with a matchup against the top team in the Western Conference. On Saturday, the team experienced a rare home loss to the Los Angeles Kings, 4-2. As they faced the Winnipeg Jets for the first time this season, the Canes needed to be error-free during this away game.
The Canes rolled with seven defensemen for the night, allowing Scott Morrow to make his season debut. Andrei Svechnikov also returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's contest. Pyotr Kochetkov took the start in the net. The Jets opted for Eric Comrie between the pipes instead of Vezina frontrunner Connor Hellebuyck.
After the Staal line had two excellent chances within the first minute, the Jets showed why they are the top team in the league. They had Kochetkov under siege for a good portion of the first period, though a chance or two was created on his own accord. Still, the Canes withstood the barrage to draw the game's first power play late in the period.
The moment that will stick with Caniacs is the disallowed goal on the ensuing power play. Jackson Blake unleashed a wicked shot from above the right dot that might've gotten a deflection of Neal Pionk's knee. As the group celebrated, Comrie and a few Jets were arguing for goalie interference. Winnipeg challenged the goal, winning and having it overturned before killing the penalty.
Late in the period, Sean Walker would sit for tripping, giving the Jets their first chance on the power play. They needed 23 seconds to convert, thanks largely to Alex Iafallo's zone entry. Making it look effortless, Iafallo found Nino Niederreiter for an easy one-timer to give the Jets the lead in the final minute of the period. It was a tough turn of events that put the Canes behind heading into the second.
Early in the second period, the Jets' power play would double the lead. Despite a tough block from Dmitry Orlov on Cole Perfetti, Pionk picked up the loose puck and wired a slap shot over Kochetkov's glove to make it 2-0. Mikko Rantanen was an inch away from drawing the Canes closer less than a minute later, hitting the post on his backhand with Comrie down.
The visitors couldn't cut into the lead for the rest of the second period and their effort in the third didn't help matters either. They benefitted from an overturned goal for a distinct kicking motion but had the opposite luck on a second goalie interference challenge late in the game. Rasmus Kupari was initially guilty of impeding Kochetkov on a rebound chance, but the Jets challenged and had the goal put back on the board. It would be the final straw in a 3-0 shutout loss for the Canes.
I think "frustrated" is the only word to describe the fan base at large after Tuesday's loss. It's not all necessarily frustration with the team, though they were largely outplayed by the Jets. The truth is that the call in the first to wipe the Canes' goal off the board was the most pivotal moment of the night. It's another in a long line of calls that leaves casual fans and die-hard fans alike scratching their heads.
As is always the case, one call didn't cost the Hurricanes the game. The Jets were the hungrier team all night and it showed on the scoreboard. Winnipeg out-hit, out-blocked, out-goalied, and out-scored Carolina. It's as simple as that. It also helps that they scored twice on the power play, definitively winning the special teams battle.
There are some people concerned about Mikko Rantanen's lack of production since joining the Hurricanes. I thought Rantanen was all over this game in every positive way imaginable. While the expectation might be for Rantanen to find the scoresheet every night, it's important that he positively affects the game when he isn't. I feel like he has been doing that. He also had the Canes' best chance of the night which hit the post.
Scott Morrow made his season debut in Winnipeg, looking fine in just 10:42 on the ice. He was out there for the lone 5-on-5 goal, though he was hardly to blame for that. He added two shots and drew a trip in Winnipeg's offensive zone by keeping his feet moving. I would've liked to see him on the ice a little more, but I don't get paid to make the decisions.
Up Next: The short road trip takes the Carolina Hurricanes to Minnesota on Thursday night, finishing their season series with the Wild. Minnesota could potentially be without Ryan Hartman, who was leveled a ten-game suspension by the league on Monday. To finish before the break, the Canes will host the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday afternoon before two weeks off.