After falling short to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, the Carolina Hurricanes tried for a better result in Game 2 of their four-game homestand. The Canes played a good game but couldn't beat Juuse Saros, losing 3-1 in a rare regulation loss at the Lenovo Center. Friday night in Raleighwood, the home team tried to shrink their magic number against the Montreal Canadiens.
The team welcomed Andrei Svechnikov back to the lineup after missing the last seven games with an injury. Frederik Andersen sought his sixth straight win between the pipes. The Canadiens countered with Samuel Montembeault for the second half of their back-to-back after losing in Philadelphia on Thursday. Montembeault shut out the Hurricanes when they visited Raleigh in February.
If you missed the first minute, you missed a pair of goals. Montreal started it after Josh Andersen was left to receive and bury a one-timer 23 seconds into the game. The Canes' response was quick. Jaccob Slavin's shot was redirected by Jackson Blake before Kaiden Guhle inadvertently slid it between Montembeault's pads. Blake was credited with a long-overdue goal to tie it 18 seconds later.
The Canes' penalty kill was tested twice in the first eight minutes and passed each time before chaos began to reign. There was no shortage of fireworks as the referees slowly started to lose control of the game. Scrums and post-whistle mayhem became the norm as things devolved. The Canes would fail to convert on overlapping penalties late, ending the period tied at one.
After a tame start to the second period, Sebastian Aho slowly started to take over the game midway through the middle frame. It began with a relentless forecheck against Mike Matheson, forcing him to turn the puck over and leading to Jordan Martinook drawing a power play. On the ensuing chance, Taylor Hall remained red-hot, burying a pass from Blake between the dots to give the Canes the lead.
The top line wasn't finished there. Less than 2:30 later, all three forwards stretched the Canes' advantage. Seth Jarvis laid a perfect pass to Aho for a one-timer that Montembeault couldn't stop, giving the Canes a 3-1 lead before the break. The period was all Carolina as they opened up a two-goal lead heading into the third.
The Canadiens wouldn't go away in the third period. They played their best period of the game, forcing Andersen to be sharp. Alex Newhook had two exceptional chances, including a breakaway, but Andersen wasn't budging. Eventually, the Habs were forced to pull their goalie, allowing the returning Svechnikov to score into the empty net, finishing a big 4-1 victory for the Canes.
Lane Hutson might get more recognition, but the best rookie on the ice on Friday was Jackson Blake. He got the response goal in the game's opening minute without putting a shot on goal to break a 22-game goalless drought. Then, he provided two massive assists in the second period to record his first career three-point game. This was a game where Blake was finally rewarded for his effort.
The same could really be said for the entire line. This trio has been one of the team's most consistent since being put together. They've had games when they've taken over before, but this felt like they finally got to reap the benefits for their hard work. Seth Jarvis recorded another two-point game, and Sebastian Aho found the back of the net. They were easily the game's best line.
It was great to see Andrei Svechnikov back in the lineup. While he spent most of his night on the fourth line with Eric Robinson and Mark Jankowski, he found a way to be impactful. He set up a few good scoring chances, laid a massive hit in the corner on Jayden Struble, and capped off his return with the empty-net goal. This was a very encouraging sign for the group.
After being burned by the Canadiens' stars in Montreal, the defense held them in check on Friday. Cole Caufield didn't record a shot. Nick Suzuki, Patrik Laine, and Juraj Slafkovsky had one each. It was the players further down the lineup who played a larger role in Montreal's game. Josh Anderson seemingly set the tone 23 seconds in, but the rest of the team failed to match that energy.
At the head of it all was the man between the pipes for the Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen has now won six in a row, allowing two or fewer goals in all six. After allowing a goal on the first shot, Andersen's night could've spiraled, especially with Montreal earning two early power plays. Instead, Andersen stood firm and was huge down the stretch to ensure a victory for the Caniacs.
Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes conclude their season series and their March schedule with the New York Islanders on Sunday night. They'll finish their homestand on Wednesday night by welcoming the Washington Capitals. The Canes begin a four-game road trip next week with a back-to-back in Detroit and Boston on Friday and Saturday.