01172020 This Week, Last Season

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It didn't take long for COVID to impact the Hurricanes' season. So here we sit with a bleak outlook as the 2 games against the Florida Panthers, on 1/21 and 1/23, have also been postponed. The Dallas' Stars, who were set to open their season on 1/14, are still delayed and their season opener isn't until tonight. The original shutdown for the Stars occurred on 1/8, which means 14 days will have passed by the time the puck drops for them. This could be a lengthy hiatus for the Canes' and their fans. Nevertheless, we persist.

Welcome to This Week, Last Season.

1/17/20 - Ducks @ Hurricanes

The Hurricanes score first and keep the game tight for 60 minutes, before falling in overtime.

The Anaheim Ducks started this one with aggression and had a couple of good, early chances in the opening minute of the 1st period, but goalie James Reimer came ready to play and kept the Ducks out of the net. Both teams, actually, got right into it early as the Canes immediately returned fire with 2 strong chances: one from Joel Edmundson who blasted a shot from the blue line, and one from Martin Necas who gathered a dangerous turn over, just outside the crease and tried a power move to the goalie's opposite side, but was stuffed by Ducks goalie Ryan Miller to keep the game scoreless. The Canes wouldn't miss on their next shot. At the the 3:59 mark, Joel Edmundson once again fires a rocket from the blue line, but this time, Aho's stick was on the ice, and he was able to redirect into a rising shot that sailed past Miller for the game's first goal. The Canes continued to have several good looks through the rest of the first period, but it was the Ducks who forced one past Reimer at the 18:18 mark. Ryan Getzlaf finds Erik Gudbranson, who sliced in, unmarked, and goes 5 hole on Reimer uncontested. Tie game. The game remained tied through the 2nd and 3rd periods, but they weren't without action. Sebastian Aho almost had a short handed goal, but hit post. Both teams showed promise on their power players with Ryan Miller making 36 saves to keep the game knotted into OT. The Ducks would go on to score off a Svechnikov turnover to win the game, 2-1.

1/19/20 - Islanders @ Canes

The one where Dad comes home.

I am not going to spend a ton of time writing about this one, because this one really needs to be watched through the highlights posted below. A bit of background information though: At the end of the 2019 season, fan favorite and ironman Justin Williams' contract was up. He himself was unsure if he was going to return for the 2020 season. Nicknamed "Mr. Game 7" for his penchant to turn himself into a scoring machine in Win or Go Home games, Justin Williams announced his intent to sign a league minimum with the Hurricanes on January 8th, 2020 and this night was the night he returned to the lineup and boy, Dad did not disappoint.

Hurricanes' Svechnikov scores in the first. Islanders' Anders Lee scored in the 2nd. Nobody scored in the 3rd. Even Overtime was not enough for this one. Setting the stage for one of the most epic memories of the Hurricanes 2020 season. The game goes to a shootout. And not just any shootout. An 8 round monster with 16 shots put on goal. And guess who wins the whole damn thing? Justin Williams does. And he does so in spectacular fashion. Coming off 3 straight losses, the Canes really needed this one. Man, I miss that crowd roar.

 

1/21/20 - Jets @ Hurricanes

In the final game before the All Star break, the Hurricanes leave no doubt and bury the Jets as Justin Williams pots 2.

Coming off the emotional return of Justin Williams, the Hurricanes kept their energy and scored 2 goals in the first ~5 minutes. Both scores for the Hurricanes came before the Jets even registered a shot on goal. Necas, again, makes it look too easy. He cradled a beautiful bounce pass from Dzingel and took the puck in alone and completely embarrasses Jets’ goalie Connor Hellebuyck with a backhand-forehand, THROUGH THE BLUE PANT, combo breaker. 3 minutes later, Turbo no look passes? Or does he shoot? Either way, the puck gets a redirection from Justin Williams and the Canes go up 2 – 0 while on the Power Play. The Jets weren’t going to roll over, though, as Patrik Laine gets his own no look pass from Mark Scheifele and puts one through the legs of Mrazek before he can close the door. The Canes scored one more time before the 1^st period horn as Teravainen, off an Aho steal, beats Hellebuyck high, over the glove side.

The 2^nd period showed good hustle from both teams, with scary chances for each, but neither team was able to change the score going into the 3^rd period. At the 9:13 mark of the 3^rd frame, the Hurricanes show some poetry in motion with awesome puck movement to put the game out of reach. Turbo brings the puck through the neutral zone, finds Svech on his left, who shows an intent to drive, before dishing to Justin Williams at the last possible second for a quintessential “tic-tac-toe” goal. Canes would continue pelting the Jets with quality chances deep into the 3^rd period, but Hellebuyck stood on his head to keep the game from becoming a total embarrassment.

 

This was a really good week for the Canes, earning 5 of a possible 6 points. Justin Williams is back and the SAT (Svechnikov - Aho - Teravainen) line was really clicking. The Canes showed some gumption keeping their legs through a lot of extra hockey with 2 OT periods and a shoot out this week.