The Carolina Hurricanes won a game Wednesday, but goalkeeper Antti Raanta was forced to depart after the first period, raising some concern at PNC Arena. The Canes defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-3, winning back-to-back games for the first time since early November and adding to the Oilers’ troubled season. The Canes (11-7-0) took a 4-0 lead in the first period, knocking Oilers goalkeeper Stuart Skinner out of the game, and appeared to be on their way to an easy victory. Jesper Fast scored his first goal in 13 games, Drury got his first of the season, and Teuvo Teravainen and Seth Jarvis also scored.
However, the Oilers struck late in the first period on a power play, with Raanta jumping fast right to left to prevent Zach Hyman from scoring. Hyman was successful. Raanta remained in goal for the rest of the first but left after the first, with Pyotr Kochetkov replacing him and stopping 13 of 15 shots. Raanta did get the win, his sixth of the season, and has a point in each of his previous 18 home games.
With goalkeeper Frederik Andersen out for the past six games due to a blood-clotting issue, Raanta’s absence was alarming, though Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said after the game that he did not believe the lower-body ailment was serious.
“He said he felt something a little funny,” Brind’Amour explained. “We didn’t think it was anything serious, but we didn’t want to take a chance.” “It’s really precautionary.” When questioned about Andersen on Wednesday morning, Brind’Amour stated he had no information on his condition. Jaroslav Halak, a veteran goalie, was recently brought in on a professional tryout by the Canes but was removed from the PTO. Teravainen and Jarvis each had a goal and an assist, but the Canes had at least one point from 15 different players. Jalen Chatfield, who returned to the lineup, earned two assists.
Despite having two of the best players in the world in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers (5-12-1) appear to be in disarray. They regrouped and made a run at the Canes after going behind 5-1 in the second when Carolina’s Martin Necas scored. In addition to Hyman’s power-play goal, the Oilers scored a shorthanded goal and were within 5-3 in the third period as the Canes attempted to tighten their defensive play in front of Kochetkov. After four shots in the second, Edmonton swarmed around Kochetkov and fired 11 on net in the third.
“There was a flurry of activity,” explained Brind’Amour. “You weren’t going to be able to come into this game and shut those guys down while still giving up scoring chances.” “However, I thought we did a good job.”
With 1:13 remained in regulation, Canes defenseman Brett Pesce was booked for holding, and the Oilers had a 6-on-4 advantage with goalkeeper Calvin Pickard withdrawn for an extra attacker. But the Canes swiftly defused the threat when Jordan Staal won a defensive zone draw and Brett Burns blasted in an empty netter for the final 6-3 score. “We had a good start, which is something we have struggled with,” Jarvis told reporters. “We usually fall behind pretty quickly, so 4-0 is a nice lead to start with.” And we did an excellent job of hunkering down. ‘Kooch’ did an excellent job of entering. We didn’t have a terrific third quarter, but we got the job done, and that’s all that matters.
