Hurricanes explode past Tampa Bay as Frederik Andersen posts first shutout of season
For those wondering how the Carolina Hurricanes would fare after the NHL trade deadline, here’s their response:
Two games, two wins, 12 goals.
And two of those goals are from one of their new additions, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
Beating the Arizona Coyotes on Friday was one thing, The Coyotes are one of the worst teams in the league and played that way.
But the way the Hurricanes took care of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday at PNC Arena, winning 6-0 behind Teuvo Teravainen’s hat trick and Frederik Andersen’s shutout, was as impressive as it was decisive.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi had a goal and career-high four assists for Carolina, which scored four power-play goals Sunday and converted seven of nine in the two wins. Kotkaniemi was named the game’s first star as the Canes kept the pressure on goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy -- and off Andersen.
The Canes (41-12-8) maintained their lead over the New Jersey Devils in the Metropolitan Division while Tampa Bay (37-21-5) has lost five straight.
‘There’s a reason why we’re high in the standings right now,” Kotkaniemi said. “We’ve got a helluva group right here in the room.”
The six-goal victory matched the Canes’ biggest against Tampa Bay — Carolina won 9-3 on March 7, 2009.
“We came out really well and stuck with it most of the game,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We’ve had a lot of games this year where we put up a lot of action at the net and looked like that and didn’t score, and that’s frustrating, Especially against these guys. Generally we don’t get a lot because their goalie is the difference. So it was nice to see us get a few.”
Andersen had 14 saves in improving to 15-6-0 this season.. It was his first shutout of the season and 24th of his career, and the Canes made it an easy day for him.
The Lightning was limited to four shots in the opening period. Tampa Bay had none in the second — none — and its four through 40 minutes were the fewest through two periods in an NHL game this season.
Andrei Svechnikov had the game’s first goal and the Canes led 2-0 after the first as Teravainen scored on the power play. Teravainen scored again in the second for a 3-0 lead and Gostisbehere received a big cheer with his power-play goal in the period.
The biggest cheer was saved for Teravainen. His third goal, in the third, had hats flying on the ice after he followed up a rebound for a 5-0 lead.
It was Teravainen’s second career hat trick – his first was in 2017. The Finnish winger, playing his best hockey of the season, also passed 400 career points in the game.
Teravainen called the hat trick special, saying he was dedicating it to a grandfather who passed away a week ago.
Gostisbehere finished with two assists to go with his goal for a three-point game. Martin Necas had three assists in tying his career best.
“Everyone’s got a job in here and everyone’s got a role,” Gostisbehere said. “They told me my role from day one and that’s what I focus on. I’m just happy to get on board this train and hopefully keep it rolling.”
Gostisbehere was obtained Wednesday from the Coyotes with the intent of pumping up the Canes’ power play as well as adding an experienced D-man. He then scored on the power play Friday against the Coyotes as the Canes romped to a 6-1 road victory.
Make it two for two. Gostisbehere, again quarterbacking Carolina’s second power-play unit, unleashed a heavy rising shot Sunday for a power-play goal.
The Canes’ big win came a day after Lightning coach Jon Cooper benched his top line of Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov in the third period of a 5-3 loss at Buffalo.
It was just a tough day for the Lightning, now 0-4-1 in the last five. Defenseman Victor Hedman was injured, leaving the game after a check from Svechnikov that had Hedman crash into the end boards. Kucherov had to leave after taking an inadvertent puck in the face from Svechnikov, who was looking to dump the puck.
Svechnikov’s goal, his 22nd, came after his initial shot was blocked, the forward collecting the puck quickly and beating Vasilevskiy with a shortside shot.
The puck was in and out of the net so quickly that at first few knew if Svechnikov had scored or if the puck skipped off the crossbar. But Svechnikov knew, immediately raising his stick.
Andersen had little work. The Lightning’s Brandon Hagel hit the post in the second period with the Canes leading 3-0 and on the power play, and Andersen knocked away a shot by Kucherov in the third on an odd-man rush by Tampa Bay.
The Canes’ other acquisition before the deadline, forward Jesse Puljujarvi, has not played. Obtaining a work visa after his trade from Edmonton, he is scheduled to join the Canes in Montreal on Monday.
This story was originally published March 5, 2023 at 5:48 PM.
