A broken hockey stick caused by pure frustration in the visitors' tunnel was an obvious indicator of the Carolina Hurricanes' game on Tuesday night, but strong goaltending and a heavy helping of luck saved what was almost a game that hurt 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 Shayne Gostisbehere and Logan Stankoven both used them, putting Carolina ahead two-to-zilch at the first intermission.
The game was good, the offense was flowing and the defense made life more difficult for the Blue Jackets. However, as the second frame progressed, what was working had holes in it. Puck management fell apart, their transition game suffered and they ultimately gave up an inch to the Blue Jackets.
Kirill Marchenko turned that inch into a mile.
Taking advantage of the Hurricanes' sudden lack of focus, Marchenko pulled his team back into the fight with his first goal in eight games. The puck slipped under Brandon Bussey's padding, and officials had to review it to make sure it even crossed the goal line before being put on the boards.
When the Hurricanes started to get the game going, it was Busey who stopped the bleeding by making repeated saves throughout the frame. At one point, he was alone against Sean Monahan as all the other players on the ice converged on the corner boards of the defensive zone – leaving Columbus alone in the slot with the puck. Thankfully for Carolina, their netminder was on top and finished off the chance.
'Make or Break' Third Period
The Hurricanes gave themselves another wound in the third period. Stankoven entered the zone with pressure from the Blue Jackets and dangerously dropped the puck to Jackson Blake, who ultimately missed. Adam Fantilli caught it, and after some tic-tac-toeing back into the Hurricanes zone, he hit a shot that tied the game.
Columbus had the momentum, and Carolina had the offense.
Still, Nikolaj Ehlers did the best job he could and got the Hurricanes the clutch goal they needed.
After a failed challenge for goal interference by the Blue Jackets, the Hurricanes initiated another power play, with Andrei Svechnikov taking the lead – after eating a puck earlier in the game, bruised mug and all.
...Honestly, this was not a night for faces. Miles Wood, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Andrei Svechnikov all took tackles in their individual careers, while three high-sticking penalties were assessed throughout the game.
Interestingly, Ehlers had an assist on Svechnikov's goal, which was his 3rd point of the night and 40th assist of the season (a new career high), and his 64th point (tied his career high).
Eventually, the clock ran out and Columbus' net was empty as the Blue Jackets took the power play in the final minute. But it was all for naught, as Jordan Martinook scored an empty-netter. It was the tenth short-handed goal for the Hurricanes this season, moving them into second place in the league-wide tally.
The final score came out to be 5-2 in favor of the Hurricanes, but if not for Bussey's focus and incredible success on special teams, things could have ended very differently.
