Six quick takeaways from Carolina Hurricanes season-opening win over Blue Jackets
As openers go, it was all the Carolina Hurricanes and their fans wanted Wednesday at PNC Arena.
The building was loud and packed, the atmosphere festive. In pregame introductions, Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour received the longest ovation and was appreciative of it, even a bit emotional.
The Canes, beginning their 25th anniversary season, then took a solid 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, falling behind early in the second period and then taking control of the game, earning a standing “O” at game’s end.
After forward Seth Jarvis tied the score 1-1, defenseman Brady Skjei scored late in the second for a 2-1 lead. Martin Necas , who had a goal and two assists, and Andrei Svechnikov then scored in the third for the Canes, who will play their next five games on the road with the State Fair up and running.
Goalie Frederik Andersen got the job done in net with 31 saves for the Canes as both teams got their share of shots and had the fans chanting “Fred-die! Fred-die!” in the third period. Andersen’s stop of a Justin Danforth shot in the second came moments before Skjei scored the go-ahead goal with 1:30 left in the period.
The Blue Jackets, with newcomer Johnny Gaudreau playing his first game, pressured the Canes in the first period and Patrik Laine scored 11 seconds into the second period. But Laine later left with an injury and the Canes began to assert themselves, with all four lines productive.
“It wasn’t a great start, for sure,” Brind’Amour said of the sloppy first period. “We were definitely behind the 8-ball in the pace of the game, but Freddie played really, really well and made some real big saves at key times.
“I thought the third period it started looking a little more like how we want to do it. We were able, I wouldn’t say take over the game, but put it home.”
Quick takeaways from Hurricanes vs Blue Jackets
▪ Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns work smoothly together. The two defensemen look like they’ve been partners for a few seasons, reading and reacting well off each other.
Burns is a physical type but Slavin had one of the hardest smacks of the game, putting a shoulder into the Blue Jackets’ Johnny Gaudreau and putting No. 13 on the ice.
▪ Andersen hadn’t been in a game that counted since his knee injury at Colorado last season. The Canes’ goalie got plenty of work and faced a number of tips and deflections among the 32 shots he saw.
“I felt good, I felt sharp,” Andersen said. “Got to see some shots early on and kind of settled in. It was nice. There’s always that excitement in the very first game and I’m happy with the way we came out.”
▪ Prediction: Seth Jarvis had 17 goals as a rookie last season. The winger will have considerably more this season and is willing to pay the price to score ‘em.
▪ Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour has always wanted Martin Necas, who has speed and skill, to be better without the puck. Necas was Wednesday in scoring his first of the season, first forcing a turnover in the Columbus zone, then converting with a low shot off a Derek Stepan pass that nicked the post.
“He’s one of those guys where we know there’s so much more there,” Brind’Amour said. “For him to feel good about his game I think it’s going to be huge.”
Necas was asked after the game how many times last season he forced a turnover before scoring. “Probably zero?” he said, smiling.
▪ When Andrei Svechnikov shoots, good things often happen for Carolina.
▪ Signing veteran Derek Stepan to a contract? Good decision. And Jack Drury will play some for the Canes this season.
This story was originally published October 12, 2022 at 7:00 PM.
