After having their eight-game win streak snapped by the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes had to hop back on the horse to face the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. The Kings ran laps around the Canes for 60 minutes, beating them 7-2 to embarrass their visitors. With their win streak turned to dust, the Canes sought a new beginning to close their California road trip.
Playing the second half of a back-to-back, Frederik Andersen was between the pipes for the Canes on Sunday. He started the California swing by shutting down the Sharks on Thursday. Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere returned to the lineup after both missed Saturday's game. Lukas Dostal was the starter for the Ducks, trying to do the same thing he did in January in Raleigh.
The opening 20 minutes were all about goaltending and penalty killing for both sides. Dostal was incredibly sharp to start the game. There were a few close calls that Dostal kept out. The best chances came from Dmitry Orlov and Logan Stankoven. Andersen wasn't tested as much but was just as good.
The Canes had to kill six minutes of penalties, including a double-minor for high-sticking by Sean Walker. For six minutes, the visitors dictated the pace. During the prolonged power-play time for Anaheim, the Ducks managed just two shots, which were easily handled by Andersen. The period ended without a blemish to either netminder's scoresheet.
The best deadline acquisition of the season struck again to break the ice midway through the second period. After Brent Burns' chance was blocked, Tyson Jost threw the puck at the net. Using his reach, Mark Jankowski redirected the pass into the net while standing below the goal line. It's his sixth goal in seven games, but, most importantly, it put the Canes ahead on the road.
The lead would disappear as the game started to open up late in the frame. Shortly after Seth Jarvis' stick exploded on a 2-on-1 chance, Alex Killorn fooled Andersen and beat him five-hole on an odd-man rush to draw Anaheim even. The tie lasted 93 seconds. Shayne Gostisbehere's misfire bounced perfectly to Jordan Martinook, as he potted the rebound to restore the lead.
More penalty trouble reared its ugly head after the Canes took the lead, forcing them to start the third on the kill. Not only did the kill stop the Ducks, but the power play added an insurance marker. Jackson Blake's chance popped to Taylor Hall, who put it off the back bar to add to the Canes' lead early in the frame, getting the power play a much-needed tally.
As the Canes got sloppy with the puck, their goalie was forced to kick it into overdrive. Andersen made some incredible saves to keep the Ducks at bay, but they'd eventually crack one through. Trevor Zegras whacked a rebound chance past Andersen after he made a couple of tough stops, bringing the Ducks within a goal.
Once again, the response was swift. After winning a race to the puck, Hall sprinted to the front of the net, received Jesperi Kotkaniemi's pass, and outwaited Dostal to slide a backhander past him, restoring the two-goal lead 36 seconds later. With Dostal on the bench, Hall completed his 6th career hat trick with the empty-net dagger to earn the Canes their 89th and 90th points in a 5-2 triumph.
This game was night and day compared to their effort in Los Angeles more than 24 hours prior. It was much more fun to watch, that's for sure. From the goal out, everyone seemed to be going. Maybe it was the return of the captain and Shayne Gostisbehere. Maybe it was the black helmets and white jerseys on the road. Whatever it was, it was two points for the Hurricanes.
I think it's safe to declare the Canes did a little better at the deadline than everyone thought. Mark Jankowski scored, again. Logan Stankoven had one of his best games as a Hurricane, earning an assist on Jordan Martinook's goal. In the third period, it was The Taylor Hall Show. He potted all three goals in the final frame, including the game-winner on the power play.
The only player to steal the spotlight from the guy with the hat trick was the goalie. Frederik Andersen was truly magnificent. He allowed one soft goal but was incredible the rest of the way. He had to contend with a big effort from Lukas Dostal on the other end in the first period before thoroughly outplaying him in the final 40. You could point to almost any save he made as being game-changing.
In the end, it was a successful trip to California. I said three or four points would suffice, and the Canes finished with four. They beat the teams they should've and we can just completely ignore the travesty in Los Angeles. They've won nine of their last ten games, opened up a double-digit lead for second in the division, and now get to spend a lot of time in a building they've played very well in.
Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes begin a four-game homestand on Tuesday night, hosting the Nashville Predators. This is their final game against a Western Conference opponent this season. They'll have a busy weekend, welcoming the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and concluding their season series with the New York Islanders on Sunday.