Three Takeaways from the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 win over San Jose Sharks
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the San Jose Sharks 6-3 Tuesday night to get back in the win column after a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks the game prior.
Carolina rode a four-goal third period to victory overcoming a two-period deficit.
Here are three takeaways from the Hurricanes' victory:
Full 60
The Hurricanes looked the best they have all season in the win over the Sharks. Their game in LA was perhaps the worst they've ever looked in head coach Rod Brind'Amour's tenure, but they started to look like themselves in the final two periods in Anaheim.
The Canes kept that momentum up into San Jose where they kept the pressure up the entire game.
Carolina outshot the Sharks 42-16 and outchanced them 50-21 at even strength.
For a while, things weren't going the Canes' way as Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was playing lights out in net, but eventually the dam broke and the Hurricanes poured on six goals.
The domination wasn't just on the score sheet either as the Canes were winning puck battles, faceoffs, and generally gave up very little the other way.
Power Play Proficiency
The Canes scored three times on the man-advantage and have now gone 6-for-23 (26.1%) on the season.
The key for the Hurricanes seems to be going from low-to-high and working in close to the net.
All three Carolina power play goals came within mere feet of the Sharks' net.
It was two (really three) new-look power play units for the Hurricanes with the absence of Aho and the eventual benching of Tony DeAngelo.
On PP1, Teuvo Teravainen got the bump up with Martin Necas, Michael Bunting and Seth Jarvis quarterbacked initially by DeAngelo, but then by Brent Burns in the third period.
Jarvis scored two times for unit one.
On PP2, Jack Drury and Brady Skjei got some playing time alongside Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Stefan Noesen and Dmitry Orlov.
Noesen scored once for unit two.
Individual Standouts
- Teuvo Teravainen: With Sebastian Aho out, Teravainen slid in as the team's 1C. He went 11-for-18 in the faceoff dot, picked up an assist and his line had a 91.24% expected goals for.
- Brady Skjei: It was a two-point night for Skjei who now leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with six points in four games. He also led all defensemen in CF% (74.07).
- Seth Jarvis: The young stud popped off with his first two goals of the season last night, with both coming on the power play. He also was perfect in the faceoff dot, including a few key wins on the PK.
- Jesperi Kotkaniemi: It was the most involved game I've seen from Kotkaniemi all season. He was everywhere. Generating chances (he led the team with 27 chances), picking off passes, winning board battles and he even picked up two primary assists.
Honorable Mention: Penalties
The Hurricanes continue to struggle with their penchant for penalties.
The game might have been in the bag sooner if not for the parade to the box in the second period that cost the team two power play goals against.
At some point, the team has to be more disciplined and that goes especially for Tony DeAngelo.
It's an understandable frustration from DeAngelo as the official set an accidental pick on him in the second period, but you know you can't mouth off to them. He got an unsportsmanlike penalty, and then continued to jaw after the end of the period at which point he received a 10-minute misconduct as well.
He knows the rules and he knows that he has to be better about controlling his temper. Brind'Amour ended up benching DeAngelo for the entirety of the third period even when his misconduct was up, which was perhaps to send a message to the defenseman who has had his fair share of defensive struggles to start the season.
Carolina wants DeAngelo's offensive abilities to shine, but they can't if he's getting penalties for easily avoidable things.
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