Carolina Hurricanes down Chicago. How the Canes beat the Hawks for third straight win
Playing their third game in four days, and after a long flight back from Las Vegas, the Carolina Hurricanes did all they needed to Monday in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Goalie Spencer Martin, starting a second straight game, continued his feel-good story with another win in his first game at PNC Arena.
Sebastian Aho scored his 20th goal, making it eight straight seasons with 20 or more in what has been a consistently good career.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who had not scored since Dec. 19, found the net for the first time in 23 games and was all smiles in the locker room, his relief apparent.
Martin Necas matched Aho with a goal and assist, and the Canes (33-17-5) also got goals from Michael Bunting, Brent Burns and Jordan Martinook -- Burns on a power play. Seth Jarvis had a pair of assists as 13 players had points.
“Tonight was really good because I thought for two periods we played really well,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I was worried about how we were going to start, with the long travel. But I thought we did a real nice job.”
A intriguing game within the game was Aho’s line being matched up against the Connor Bedard line — the Canes’ seasoned pro and three-time NHL All-Star going up against the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft, a player called a generational talent by many NHL observers.
When Bedard suffered a broken jaw Jan. 5 after an open-ice hit from the Devils’ Brendan Smith, it appeared doubtful he would be recovered in time for Monday’s game. But the center has returned sooner than expected, was playing his third game and had a goal and two assists.
“He’s quick, very quick,” Aho said. “Obviously, you already knew that he has an elite release and all that. But he’s for sure going to be a very good player for a long time in this league.”
Aho was asked after the game about putting a reverse hit on Bedard in the first period, backing into the rookie and knocking him to the ice.
“It was him?” Aho asked.
Told it was Bedard who skated up behind him, Aho smiled and said, “It’s just how the play went there. It’s not like I was hunting him down.”
The Canes led 1-0 after the first, limiting the Hawks to five shots and keeping the puck at even strength most of the period. They did have to kill off a 5-on-3 power play — after penalties on Brett Pesce and Jarvis early in the first — but did it cleanly as the sellout crowd cheered them on.
“It was loud,” Martin said, smiling. “The first couple of saves on the penalty kill, they really went nuts.”
That done, the Canes took the lead on Bunting’s goal off a backhander and would have had more had the Hawks’ Petr Mrazek, the former Canes goalie, not been sharp.
The Canes then put up three in the second. Necas scored unassisted with some nifty puck-handling to beat his Czech friend and former teammate. Kotkaniemi got his goal on a snipe from the right circle, and Aho beat Mrazek high after circling the net for a 4-0 lead.
The Blackhawks (15-38-3), winless on the road since Nov. 9 at Tampa Bay, briefly made it interesting in the third. Bedard and Tyler Johnson both had power-play goals against the NHL’s third-best penalty killing team.
That made it 5-3 with 11 minutes left in the period, but a Martinook empty-netter finished it off for the Canes.
“Solid win,” Aho said. “Up and through the lineup it was pretty solid. Good start, got a good lead and that was pretty much the game.”
The Hawks were outmanned this night. The Canes’ next game will be a different kind of matchup – Thursday against the Florida Panthers.
Andersen causes doubletakes
The Canes had an interesting morning skate Monday, turning heads.
Pyotr Kochetkov was not on the ice but Frederik Andersen was — in the starter’s crease.
But the word quickly was passed that Andersen, who now has missed the past 43 games, was only getting in more practice time and taking shots. He would not play or serve as a backup Monday.
Brind’Amour said called Andersen’s work and participation “encouraging.”
“I think it’s good for him just to get back into some sort of normal flow,” Brind’Amour said. “Obviously, he’s not ready to go yet, but every day that he practices is hopefully a step closer to getting him in there.”
First look at Bedard
Hours before the game, Brind’Amour called Connor Bedard a dynamic, exciting player.
“He’s one of those rare talents that comes along that when they get the puck on their stick, there’s always something happening,” he said.
And after the game? Bedard had a goal and two assists. and had another goal disallowed because of an offside ruling.
“He’s everything I said, very dynamic,” Brind’Amour said. “I thought we did a nice job on him, actually, and he still gets on the scoresheet. Super skilled, and he knows how to get his ice and to find his teammates. Whoever gets to play with him is very fortunate.”
Bedard, who has been playing with a full shield, stood and stared at Martin after his third-period goal. Martin, in return, simply pointed to the scoreboard with his stick.
This story was originally published February 19, 2024 at 9:42 PM.
