Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk clears the puck. The Hurricanes defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2 at the PNC Arena on Jan. 24. " />
Aaron Alejandro
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk clears the puck. The Hurricanes defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2 at the PNC Arena on Jan. 24.
After blowing three-goal leads in both of their games this season, the Carolina Hurricanes (0-1-2) took a different route Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers (3-1-0), falling behind 3-0 before mounting a furious rally, yet finishing short in the end.
In a game where both teams had numerous quality scoring chances, the difference was the ability to finish, and more importantly the ability to make a big save at key moments.
Despite jumping out the gates with plenty of energy and producing multiple scoring chances, the Canes found themselves down 1-0, less than two minutes into the contest. Forward Anton Slepyshev registered his first-career NHL goal on a shot Carolina netminder Cam Ward should’ve saved.
Later in the first period, the Oilers extended their lead when a centering pass from forward Jordan Eberle bounced off of Carolina defenseman Ron Hainsey and into the net.
Even though the scoreboard suggested an uneven game after the first, the Canes played a solid period with the difference between the two teams just being converting scoring chances.
Edmonton continued to find the back of the net in the second, making it a three-goal game just a couple minutes into the middle frame. Center Anton Lander won an offensive-zone faceoff to winger Tyler Pitlick, who fired it past the blocker of Ward.
Just seconds into the third period, Ward made a timely save on a quality scoring chance to keep the deficit at three. Minutes later, Carolina scored its first of the game to make it 3-1. Forward Lee Stempniak, who signed with the Hurricanes this offseason as a free agent, put a rebound from a Victor Rask shot past Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot.
His next shift, Stempniak cut the deficit to one with his second goal in 58 seconds. Forward Jeff Skinner, posted behind the net, found Stempniak in front with a pass that the NHL journeyman put home. Though it won’t show up on the scoresheet, Carolina defenseman Justin Faulk allowed the goal to happen by keeping the puck in the offensive zone and avoiding an offsides call, shortly before the goal.
The Canes amped up their game and the pressure as the final period went on, coming close multiple times to tying it up, but ultimately being shut down by Talbot.
Despite a late-period power play, and pulling Ward with more than two minutes remaining for an extra attacker, the Canes failed to find the equalizer. Talbot made the save of the game on Skinner with 2.3 seconds remaining to seal a 3-2 Edmonton victory.
Carolina continues its season-opening road trip Thursday at 9 p.m. in Calgary against the Flames.