Recap: Canes Wrap Up First Leg of Road Trip With Point In Anaheim

ANAHEIM, CA. – The NHL’s leaders in overtime games played this season needed extra time when they went head-to-head Tuesday night, with the Anaheim Ducks ultimately prevailing over the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 4-3.

The Story

The opening 40 minutes was a tale of give-and-take for both sides, with Carolina quickly falling behind 1-0.

Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk threw what looked like a harmless shot on net from the point, but before it could get to Pyotr Kochetkov it was redirected by Adam Henrique into the throat of Brett Pesce. The Canes defenseman dropped to the ice for what would be a scary few moments, but Henrique was able to locate the loose puck and then put it beyond Kochetkov to give the home side an advantage just 3:59 in.

The game’s first lead would last just 1:39 though as Brady Skjei was able to respond for his defensive partner.

After Anaheim failed to clear their own end, Paul Stastny shuffled a pass into the slot for Jack Drury, who then turned and hit a streaking Skjei for a beautifully released wrist shot. The effort beat John Gibson high to the glove side, knotting the contest at 1-1.

Video: CAR@ANA: Skjei ties the game in 1st period

With each team finding the back of the net in the opening six minutes, Anaheim was able to retake their lead before the end of the opening frame. Maxime Comtois, who was returning after missing 11 games due to injury, put his team back up on top, giving his team a 2-1 lead that would hold until the middle stages of the second period.

In the middle frame Carolina was able to reverse course from the first, scoring twice with Anaheim having just one sandwiched in between.

To start, Jaccob Slavin unleashed a heavy shot from the point, one that was knocked down in the slot and wound up right on the tape of Sebastian Aho. Aho was able to put it home for his 11th of the year, knotting the game at 2-2.

But just as quickly as the Canes were able to even the score, Anaheim was able to get another go-ahead goal. Only 43 seconds after Aho’s equalizer, Brett Leason and Mason McTavish connected on a rush to put the home team back in front.

As prefaced though, Carolina had a response in them before the game could progress to the third period. Inside the final five minutes of the frame, Jordan Staal, camped out in front, was able to redirect a Brent Burns shot from the point to pull the game even for a third time.

Despite the three goals each in both of the first two frames, the third period was a vast difference, seeing neither team find the back of the net. This prompted overtime, which perhaps shouldn’t have come as a surprise given that Carolina (9) and Anaheim (8) entered the night leading the league in overtime games played.

In the three-on-three the home team caught Carolina on a line change, allowing Ryan Strome to walk in and snap one low to the blocker-side of Kochetkov for the game-winner.

They Said It

Brady Skjei expressing his emotions, post-game…

“The whole 60 minutes I don’t think we had our ‘A’ game. We fought back into it and got back into the game to get a point, but that was definitely not the way we normally play and the way that we have to play to win games in this league. Obviously overall a pretty successful road trip as whole, but this one stings. Now we have a long flight home. We’ll learn from it. This one hurts a bit.”

Sebastian Aho providing his assessment of the affair…

“It wasn’t a good start. We gave them a couple goals in the first. The second period we were better and we took over the game and tied it with a lot of good shifts in their end. The third was pretty tight and in OT we lost. We have to be better right off the start.”

Rod Brind’Amour rounding out the group with his perspective on things…

“Give the guys credit, they were exhausted mentally. You could tell right from the start of the game that we were not ready to go. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, but the sharpness just was not there. We at least came back and had a good second period, but then you could just see how exhausted everyone was in the third. We didn’t play very well. I give the guys credit; it’s been a long season so far with just the way it’s gone. We’ve dug in as best we can.”

Bonus Notes

• Tonight was the second consecutive contest that Brady Skjei scored the game-opening goal for Carolina. Jack Drury’s assist on his goal was the first of his NHL career.
• Seth Jarvis posted an assist on Sebastian Aho’s goal, extending his point streak to six games (11/23-12/6: 2g, 4a). The streak is tied for the longest by any Hurricanes skater this season (Necas, 10/24-11/4: 4g, 6a) and one game shy of Jarvis’ career long (4/16/22-4/28/22: 3g, 4a in 7 GP).
• Carolina moves to 14-6-6 with the overtime loss.
• Pyotr Kochetkov advances to 5-1-4 after allowing four goals on 30 shots.

What’s Next?

The team will fly back to Raleigh immediately post-game, landing in the early hours of Wednesday. They’ll return to practice on Thursday before departing for New York Friday, ahead of a Saturday evening matchup against the Islanders.

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