Hurricanes Win On Back-To-Back Nights Thanks To Turbo’s Hat Trick, Necas’ OT Winner

By AIDAN JENSEN

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It seems like every year, the Carolina Hurricanes host their opening game at home, then hit the road for a long trip.

Such was the case this year – the Canes beat Ottawa, 5-3, on Opening Night, then hit the road for six games. Carolina didn’t have the best road trip, going 2-4, but did manage wins against the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

Now back in Raleigh, the Canes look a lot more like themselves.

Exactly a week after losing 7-4 in Seattle, Carolina got revenge on Thursday night, 3-2, with a Martin Nečas overtime winner in Raleigh. On Friday night, the Canes blanked a winless San Jose Sharks team, 3-0, behind a Teuvo Teravainen hat trick.

Friday’s win was a significant milestone in Carolina goaltender Antti Raanta’s career, as he recorded his 20th shutout.

Carolina needed the Seattle win in particular, as it had lost three consecutive road games. The Canes were coming off an uncharacteristic, offensively anemic performance in a 3-0 road loss at Tampa Bay.

Goaltending, one of Carolina’s usually strongest areas, has struggled for the most part.

Frederik Anderson is 3-0 in goal, but he’s allowed 3.38 goals per game and only has an .875 save percentage. Raanta is 2-1 with a slightly better GAA (3.08), but he only has a .867 save percentage. Pyotr Kochetkov is nowhere near ready for the NHL – he’s 0-3 with a 4.33 GAA and .836 save percentage.

The Canes hit the road for three more upcoming games – Monday night at the Philadelphia Flyers, then next Thursday and Saturday at the New York Rangers and Islanders, respectively. Carolina, despite being 5-4, is actually tied atop the Metropolitan with the Rangers. Thursday’s game is a long way from deciding the Metro, but it could prove crucial down the road.

The Canes return to Raleigh on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to host the Buffalo Sabres.

Hopefully, Carolina will be atop the division with three more wins by then.

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