Follow me on Twitter:
@BenShelley_20
Follow HockeyBuzz Hurricanes on Twitter:
@HB_Canes
The Carolina Hurricanes extended their winning streak to three games last night, following a 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators.
The Hurricanes opened the scoring early on, with Jesperi Kotkaniemi tipping in Brady Skjei’s point shot only two minutes into the game. Then later in the frame, Skjei got on the board himself, putting a shot through traffic to score and while Ottawa did use a coach’s challenge, the goal stood, to put Carolina up 2-0.
After a few good chances for Ottawa in the first half of the second period though, the Senators did get one back midway through the frame off a goal from Claude Giroux. Then after the Hurricanes couldn’t capitalize on a long 5-on-3 at the end of the second period that continued into the third, Ottawa capitalized on a power play of their own under three minutes into the third period, with Alex DeBrincat finding Brady Tkachuk in-close for a tap-in.
The game ended up going to overtime, where the Hurricanes controlled a lot of the extra frame. Then after sustaining quite a bit of zone time and getting a couple good chances, Seth Jarvis dropped the puck back to Martin Necas on a rush, who put a shot off the post and in to leave the Hurricanes with the win.
It’s a big win for the Hurricanes to stay ahead at the top of the Metropolitan Division. The extra point was especially important, considering the New Jersey Devils also got a win yesterday.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi continues to make an impact with the Hurricanes and looks more and more comfortable holding onto the puck through traffic and making plays. Take out the first 20 games of the season and he has 15 goals and 36 points over his last 57 games, which is pretty much the exact same 82-game pace for goals and points that Vincent Trocheck managed as the Hurricanes’ second-line center last season.
Martin Necas scoring was also good to see, not to mention getting the game-winner. It marks his first goal (and point) in five games.
I think there’s also a legitimate decision to be made in terms of who should start in the playoffs for the Hurricanes. Antti Raanta has arguably been better than Frederik Andersen when healthy, now on a 17-game point streak himself. He was rock solid through most of the playoffs last year and in my opinion, the Hurricanes have to think about giving him the nod for Game 1.
At this point, the Hurricanes can lock up the division with three wins in their last five games. They’ll be back in action tomorrow, as they begin a three-game road trip against the Nashville Predators.
Quiz Maker
OTHER ARTICLES FROM APRIL
Hurricanes sweep weekend back-to-back, closing in on Metro Division title 
Carolina Hurricanes Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»