Scan the Carolina Hurricanes roster and it really isn’t that imposing. For every Sebastien Aho there’s a Stefan Noesen (remember him?). For every Andrei Svechnikov, a Jordan Martinook. For every Martin Necas, a Derek Stepan.
However, thanks in no small part to coach Rod Brind’Amour, the sum of the parts is considerably greater than the individual components. And, man, are they difficult to play against.
Last night’s 3-2 overtime loss was a perfect example.
The Penguins started well and carried the play for a portion of the opening period. We even grabbed the early lead just past the four-minute mark. Rickard Rakell (goodness, what a player!) won a puck battle in our zone and fed Pierre-Olivier Joseph, who headmanned the biscuit to Jake Guentzel entering the Carolina zone. Jake alertly feathered an area pass to Sidney Crosby steaming down the slot. As only Sid can do, he corralled the puck with his skate and moved it to his stick in one motion before swatting it past goalie Pytor Kochetkov from point-blank range.
Then, like a storm surge, the aptly named Hurricanes began to impose their will. As the ice tilted in their favor, they snapped off the last five shots on goal of the period, including a dandy from ex-Pen Jordan Staal that Tristan Jarry turned aside.
Still, our boys had a chance to widen their lead thanks to a tripping penalty to Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the early stages of the second period. The power(less) play predictably stalled while yielding a pair of 2-on-1’s to boot. Minutes later Necas got body position on Joseph and Brian Dumoulin and whacked home a juicy rebound from close range to knot the score.
We had our moments mid period, but Kochetkov denied Rakell, Guentzel and Josh Archibald on good scoring chances. Meanwhile, the ‘Canes kept comin’, piling up a 17-10 edge in shots on goal. Then came the inevitable black-and-gold bungle. Following a neutral-zone turnover, Jarry fought off a high shot by Aho before giving a trailing Svechnikov an ill-advised bump. The move cost him a step in the skate race to the far post, resulting in an easy wraparound goal for the big ‘Canes winger.
Sharp as a tack, Kochetkov stopped a streaking Kasperi Kapanen in the closing seconds of the period to keep it a 2-1 game.
With the ‘Canes protecting the lead, the Pens pushed back in the third period. As the final minute and change ticked off the clock, Jeff Petry rose to the occasion with two big plays. With an empty net to his back, he broke up a ‘Canes rush and forced an off-side to prevent a sure goal. Moments later he lobbed a shot from the right point that Guentzel redirected home. Knotting the score at 2-2 and giving our Pens a rare chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
Midway through overtime, Seth Jarvis drove Bryan Rust headfirst into the boards near the door to our bench. While Petry stopped to engage Jarvis and Jeff Carter let up anticipating a penalty, Svechnikov and Brett Pesce sped into our zone on a 2-on-oh (no). Jarry had no chance.
Yes, it should’ve been a penalty. But only our Pens would stop skating.
Puckpourri
Stats-wise, it was an odd game. The ‘Canes, who embrace a “no shot is a bad shot” philosophy, held the high ground in shot attempts (64-52) and shots on goal (39-32), while the Pens had an edge in scoring chances (29-20) and high-danger chances (17-12).
A positive…I thought Rust looked more like his old self than at any time in recent memory. Just past the seven-minute mark of the third period, he chased down a loose puck, broke around Pesce and nearly beat Kochetkov at the far post.
On the flip side, where was our defense on the second ‘Canes goal? Jan Rutta tried to help Jarry by sprawling to the ice, but his partner (Marcus Pettersson?) was way (way) up ice and out of the play. So much for structure and responsible play.
Kris Letang missed the game with an illness, causing Mike Sullivan to shuffle his defensive pairs. Chad Ruhwedel subbed and did his usual solid job (plus-1, three hits, two shots on goal). Kapanen replaced slumping Danton Heinen and registered three hits and three shots on goal in 12:55 of ice time.
Opinyinz
At Thanksgiving, my brother Dan observed that Jarry is good, but not upper-echelon. I’m beginning to agree. He has all the ability in the world, but the concentration and decision-making is lacking at times, not to mention rebound control. Too bad we couldn’t have wedded his ability with Matt Murray’s focus.
The Pens will have their way against weaker teams but struggle against playoff contenders.
We lack jam and speed. Don’t know where we’re going to find it.
The power play stinks.
On Tap
The Pens (11-8-4, 26 points) host Vegas (17-6-1, 35 points) on Thursday night. Following a down season, the Golden Knights are cookin’ under new coach Bruce Cassidy.
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Hey Rick,
I can't stay up that late to watch these OT losses. So, this morning with all of the hoopla over the Jarvis hit on Rust, I watch the replay over and over again from the NHL website. The angle was really clean, from an overhead camera, and I keep stopping and starting to get a frame-by-frame look. I bled blue and white from 67-80 and black and gold from 80 on, but that was a clean hit. Rust was well away from the boards as Jarvis approached and he (Rust) turned toward the boards at the last second, as Jarvis put his shoulder in to Rust. As much as we would hate to admit it, the hit wasn't the problem, the reaction by the players was - stopping and watching the 2-on-0.
Also, good teams do not put themselves into a position where 1 call can decide a game. If the team was a true Cup contender, they would have played to the whistle and then gone after Jarvis. Only average teams fighting for that last playoff spot wait on officials to help them with calls that go their way.