The Carolina Hurricanes had yet another busy week as their regular season comes to a close.
On Apr. 9, the Hurricanes traveled to Boston, playing their last regular season game against the Bruins at the TD Garden. The first period had a controversial recalled goal from Martin Necas, as the officiating crew ruled that the puck did not pass through the red goal line. The second period marked a higher level of intensity from both teams. Carolina left-winger Andrei Svechnikov scored the famous “Michigan” goal – a lacrosse goal that comes into the net from behind the goaltender. This is Svechnikov’s third lacrosse goal since 2018. Two minutes later, Canes right-winger Tuevo Teravainen scored with an assist from Jaccob Slavin. Boston’s Charlie McAvoy scored for the Bruins near the second period’s end. Despite Boston’s efforts during the third period with thirteen shots on goal, Carolina goaltender Pytor Kochetkov blocked all of them. Jake Guentzel extended his six-game point streak with a Dmitry Orlov assist. But the main highlight (outside of the lacrosse goal) for Carolina was their final goal, a Seth Jarvis shorthand. With that goal, Jarvis officially joined Carolina’s thirty-goal club at the age of 22. Carolina took the win with a final score of 4-1.
The team held an open practice in Raleigh on Apr. 10, with signed prospects Jackson Blake, Scott Morrow, and Bradly Nadeau for the first time. Blake made a shootout goal, generating cheers from the team and a large crowd.
On Apr. 11, it was announced that Svechnikov would be featured on an ESPN documentary, The Michigan, about the goal style’s impact on hockey. Svechnikov is the first NHL player to successfully score a lacrosse goal. The documentary aired on Apr. 14 on ESPN, with Svechnikov being interviewed about his first Michigan goal and the influence it held.
The Hurricanes went back on the road to play Apr. 12 against the St. Louis Blues. Scott Morrow made his Carolina debut, playing a total of twelve minutes and forty-one seconds. Morrow’s scorecard released after the game was near-perfect on both offensive and defensive fronts. Canes goaltender Frederik Andersen and Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington were both game standouts. Blues left-winger Zachary Bolduc scored the first goal of the game, followed shortly by Canes left-winger Jordan Martinook. The second period also ended with a tie. Blues right-winger Jordan Kyrou scored early on in the second with a powerplay goal, putting the Blues up 2-1. Near the period’s end, Jarvis scored his thirty-first goal of the season. The third period began with a Slavin goal. Guentzel scored three goals in the game’s final three minutes, with two of them being empty-net. Carolina won with a final score of 5-2.
Teravainen, Jordan Staal, Jalen Chatfield, and Brett Pesce did not play due to a maintenance day. In their places were Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Morrow, Tony DeAngelo, and Brendan Lemieux.
To finish the week off, on Apr. 14, the Hurricanes went to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks. Teravainen and Brady Sjeki remained inactive for the game. DeAngelo, Koktkaniemi, Chatfield, Pesce, and Staal all returned to the lineup. Kochketov was in net against former Carolina goaltender Petr Mrazek.
The first period marked a career-first goal for Chicago’s Frank Nazar in his first NHL game, fresh from the Michigan hockey program. Nazar was signed by the Blackhawks on Apr. 13. Carolina evened the score up 1-1 in the second with a Staal wrist shot. The third period was one to remember, with Chicago’s Andreas Athanasiou scoring his second goal of the season nearly two minutes into play. In response, Jarvis scored two powerplay goals. The game ended on a Sebastian Aho empty-netter, with a Canes win of 4-2.
As the week ends, Carolina remains in the third-place spot for the President’s Trophy, three points behind the New York Rangers and two points behind the Dallas Stars.
The Canes will finish their regular season against Columbus at Nationwide Arena on Apr. 16. They are currently second in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division, with 52 wins.
