Coming into tonight's game, both teams were averaging over 3.25 goals for and against per game.
So on paper, this was looking to be a high-scoring, barn burner of a hockey game.
However, the Carolina Hurricanes had other plans.
The Canes grinded out a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena
It was the type of game we normally expect from the Hurricanes. A hard-fought defensive effort where they smother most of the other team's potential offense.
We hadn't seen it as much this year, but it's nice to see the team have one of these identity wins.
"Tonight was a real good game, all the way," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "I loved our second and third too. Didn't give up a ton and created a bunch of offense. Did it right and we got rewarded for it tonight with the win."
A big factor in this win was the two PKs: penalty killing and Pyotr Kochetkov.
The Hurricanes have yet to allow a power play goal against for the entire month of December and tonight was no different.
The Canes killed off all three Detroit power plays, not to mention the fact that the Red Wings had scored a PP goal in 10 of their last 11 game, and all three came in crucial moments.
Carolina had to kill off penalties to end both the first and second periods and then had to get one final kill in the last five minutes of the game all while holding onto a one-goal lead.
But that's also where Kochetkov came through. Following his big game on Tuesday, a 31-save performance against the Ottawa Senators, Kochetkov pitched a 25-save win for his second straight win.
"The last two games he was solid," Brind'Amour said on his netminder. "The other guy was making a ton of saves too and you've gotta match it. That's kind of the game that goes on within the game sometime. You've got to give their guy a lot of credit. Made a ton of saves and kept his team in. [Kochetkov] had to match it and he did."
Kochetkov had a few shaky moments, but he also had more than enough big saves too, especially late in the third period.
And while the power play didn't convert for Carolina, it sort of led to a goal as the Hurricanes maintained possession following their first opportunity and then after Martin Necas had a good keep in, Stefan Noesen laced a pass through two defenders to Jack Drury on the backdoor.
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So we'll chock it up to a good special teams night overall.
Detroit would even up the game early into the second period as Michael Rasmussen beat Kochetkov shortside, but the tie would be short lived.
Carolina dumped the puck and in Detroit goaltender Ville Husso made an attempt on it, missed and then the puck rebounded to the front of the net where Jordan Staal had charged in on the forecheck.
One tap-in later and the Canes were back on top.
"The way we play is obviously trying to get as quick as you can in their end," Staal said. "Just kind of a misplay obviously. The goalie came out and missed the first time. I saw it bounce off the wall and went looking towards the net. Got a fortunate bounce coming back the other way. You take those when you can."
I should also note that Kochetkov had a similar misplay as his clearing attempted was knocked down by Patrick Kane alone in the slot, but while Husso couldn't recover, Kochetkov could.
The Hurricanes have managed to salvage a little bit of points and good vibes out of their disaster of a road trip and hopefully that can stick with them for a while as they return home to PNC Arena for a Friday night showdown against the Nashville Predators.
