April 26th, 2013 at 10:22 AM
By Chris WarnerThe Carolina Hurricanes lost 4-3 in overtime last night in the final home game of this shortened 2012-2013 National Hockey League season. Jiri Tlusty scored twice, Tuomo Ruutu added the other Hurricanes goal and starting goaltender Dan Ellis made 34 saves as the Hurricanes played well for 60 minutes of regulation but lost after Rangers' captain Ryan Callahan scored 2:55 into the overtime period.
This game also marked the National Hockey League debut of the youngest Staal brother, Jared, as he logged 12:16 of ice time with one shot on goal.
The Rangers scored the first two goals of the game in the first period and found themselves up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. Derek Stepan got the scoring started a mere 3:19 into the game, beating Ellis with a snap shot to record his 17th of the season (assisted by Carl Hagelin and Ryan Callahan). Derick Brassard increased the lead to 2-0 late in the period, beating Ellis up high to give the Rangers some insurance going into the second period. The goal was Brassard's 12th of the season and was assisted by Carl Hagelin and Michael Del Zotto.
Read more... Join the Conversation... April 24th, 2013 at 11:35 AM
By Chris WarnerThe Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout last night behind one goal and one assist from forward Jordan Staal, regulation goals from Alexander Semin and Patrick Dwyer and 36 saves from starting goaltender Dan Ellis. Riley Nash and Jeff Skinner both scored on Islanders' starting goaltender Evgeni Nabokov in the shootout, while Ellis stopped both Frans Neilsen and Brad Boyes to secure the Hurricanes' second straight victory.
Despite the loss, the New York Islanders still clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after gaining one point for the shootout loss and having the Winnipeg Jets lose to the Washington Capitals. It is the team's first playoff appearance since 2007.
Alexander Semin got the scoring started for the Hurricanes, scoring early in the first period for the second-straight game. Semin brought the puck into the offensive zone before dropping it off to captain Eric Staal near the blue-line; Staal then passed the puck back to Semin on a quick give-and-go play towards the net and Semin put the puck past Nabokov with a wrist shot to the lower left corner. The goal was Semin's 13th of the season, was assisted by Staal and Jamie McBain and gave the home team a 1-0 lead a mere 3:57 into the game.
Read more... Join the Conversation... April 23rd, 2013 at 7:07 PM
By Chris WarnerThe Carolina Hurricanes are looking to win their second game in a row and complete the season sweep of the New York Islanders tonight at 7:00 inside the PNC Arena in the penultimate home game of the season. The Hurricanes are coming off a 3-2 road victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning; Alexander Semin scored 16 seconds into the first period and added two assists, and forward Jiri Tlusty added two more first period goals to grab an early lead. Carolina's starting goaltender Dan Ellis made 35 saves in the winning effort.
The Hurricanes have defeated the Islanders 6-4 and 4-2 respectively in their two previous matchups this season. For the Hurricanes to be successful tonight, the team will look for offensive firepower from their top scoring line of Eric Staal, Alexander Semin and Jiri Tlusty. The top line has a combined 14 points in the two games with the Islanders this season (6 goals, 8 assists) and is a total plus11.
Jiri Tlusty is having a career season, leading the team in goals with a career high 21 while Eric Staal leads the team in overall scoring with 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists). Alexander Semin is second in team scoring with 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists), and has been rewarded with a five-year 35-million dollar contract extension after signing a one-year deal last off-season.
Read more... Join the Conversation... April 22nd, 2013 at 7:27 PM
By Chris WarnerAlexander Semin scored 16 seconds into the game and Jiri Tlusty added two more first period goals as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 last night inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis added goals in the second and third periods respectively to attempt to lead a comeback, but Hurricanes' starting goaltender Dan Ellis made 35 saves (including 15 in the third period) to keep his team in the lead. Tampa Bay Lightning starting goaltender Anders Lindback made 25 saves in the losing effort.
The Hurricanes started the scoring early in the first period, getting on the board a mere 16 seconds into the game due to aggressive forechecking by captain Eric Staal and finishing by Alexander Semin. Staal took the puck from Tampa Bay's Stamkos behind the lightning net and fed a pinpoint pass to Semin in the left faceoff circle who beat Lindback to give the Canes the lead. The goal was Semin's 12th of the season and was assisted by Eric Staal.
Read more... Join the Conversation... April 19th, 2013 at 10:01 AM
By Chris WarnerTuomo Ruutu scored two goals and Alexander Semin added his 11th of the season late in the third period to force overtime, but the Carolina Hurricanes lost 4-3 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets after Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd converted a two-on-one breakaway 1:23 into the overtime period. The Jets' Ondrej Pavelec made 24 saves in route to the win, while Justin Peters made 27 saves in his ninth loss of the season.
Zach Bogosian got the scoring started midway through the first period of play, tipping in a Brian Little pass for his fourth goal of the year. Bogosian joined Brian Little and Andrew Ladd on the rush, and picked up a loose puck deep in the zone after Little tried to stick-handle his way around the Carolina defense and poked the puck past Peters to make the score 1-0. The Hurricanes did well to weather the storm in the first period and went into the second period of play down 1-0 despite being out shot 10-3 in the first frame.
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