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Bailed Out: Goaltending Drags Hurricanes to Victory Over Blue Jackets
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- Bailed Out: Goaltending Drags Hurricanes to Victory Over Blue Jackets
Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
The hockey stick broken in the visitors' tunnel out of pure frustration was as clear an indicator as any for the Carolina Hurricanes ' play Tuesday night, but strong goaltending and a heavy helping of luck salvaged what was nearly a game that bruised more than just flesh.
In the first half of the game, the Hurricanes were dominant against their Metropolitan Division Rivals – the Columbus Blue Jackets . In the first period, the Hurricanes got two power play opportunities, and both Shayne Gostisbehere and Logan Stankoven made use of them, putting Carolina up two-to-zilch going into the first intermission.
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The play was good, offense was on it, and defense made the Blue Jackets' lives that much harder. However, as the second frame carried on, holes were worn in what was working. Puck management fell apart, their transition game suffered, and they ultimately gave the Blue Jackets an inch.
Kirill Marchenko turned that inch into a mile.
Taking advantage of the Hurricanes' sudden lack of focus, Marchenko dragged his team back into the fight with his first goal in eight games. The puck slid under the padding of Brandon Bussi , and the officials had to review it to ensure it had even crossed the goal line before putting it onto the board.
While the Hurricanes' game began to spiral, it was Bussi who stopped the bleeding as he bailed them out time and again throughout the frame. At one point, he was on his own against Sean Monahan as all of the other players on the ice had congregated to the corner board of the defensive zone – leaving the Columbus forward all alone in the slot with the puck. Thankfully for Carolina, their netminder was on top of things and quelled the chance.
A 'Make it or Break it' Third Period
The Hurricanes dealt themselves another wound in the third period. Stankoven entered the zone with pressure from the Blue Jackets and dangerously dropped the puck back for Jackson Blake , who ultimately missed it. Adam Fantilli scooped it up, and after some tic-tac-toeing back into the Hurricanes' zone, he snapped a shot that tied the game .
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Columbus had momentum, and Carolina had mistakes.
Nonetheless, Nikolaj Ehlers did the most Nikolaj Ehlers thing he could and got the Hurricanes the clutch goal they needed .
After an unsuccessful challenge for goaltending interference by the Blue Jackets, the Hurricanes embarked on another power play, with Andrei Svechnikov extending the lead – bruised mug and all, after having eaten a puck earlier in the game.
…It honestly was not a night for faces . Miles Wood , Shayne Gostisbehere , and Andrei Svechnikov all dealt with pucks getting all up in their personal business, while three high-sticking penalties were assessed throughout the game.
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Interestingly, Svechnikov's goal was assisted by Ehlers, which was his third point of the night and the 40th assist of the season (a new career high), and his 64th point (tying his career-high).
Eventually, the clock wound down, and the Columbus net emptied as the Blue Jackets acquired a power play in the final minute. But it was all for naught, as Jordan Martinook scored the empty-netter . It was the tenth short-handed goal for the Hurricanes this season, pushing them into second in the league-wide tally.
The final score came out 5-2 in favor of the Hurricanes, but if not for Bussi's focus and incredible success on special teams, things could have ended far, far differently.
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