PNC arena is buzzing tonight after a huge win for the Caniacs. With a new fire in the third period, and extreme goal saving from Frederick Andersen, the Canes prevailed in their first playoff game.
Posted April 17, 2024 2:02 p.m. EDT
Updated April 20, 2024 7:57 p.m. EDT
By Gianna Forbis, WRAL reporter
Raleigh, N.C. — Welcome to ‘Causing Chaos,’ part one of the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. With a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders, the Canes are rocking – and learning good things come in three.
Three goal scorers.
Third Period Fireworks.
Three Power Plays.
In the first period, Canes center Evegeny Kutznetsov brought the chaos with twelve seconds into a Canes power play, delivering a wrist shot goal. Assists by Martin Necas and Brady Skjei brought the canes up 1-0 in the first.
It was not long until the New York Islanders answered back at 11:40 in the first, center Kyle MacLean brings the heat on Frederick Andersen and ties it up in PNC Arena. Assists by Anders Lee and Alexander Romanov even it up at the end of the first.
With two power plays, one for each team, Canes were able to kill the Islanders power play after a high sticking penalty early on by winger Andre Svechnikov.
In the second, the Canes got a power play early after a delay of game from Islanders winger Matt Martin. A close firing puck by Andre Svechnikov would have been the Canes second power play goal, but the Islanders got the penalty kill.
Even though the Canes went seven and a half minutes without a shot in the first period, and certainly under performed in the second period – the third period had PNC arena buzzing.
An early goal by winger Stefan Noesen with assists by Brady Skjei and Evgeny Kuznetsov sparked a drive early for the Canes to gain momentum and keep the power on their side.
Noesen did cost a penalty in a high-sticking call against Islanders Mike Reilly, but New York gave the power play right back to the Canes after a Kyle Palmieri minor.
Canes goaltender Frederick Andersen made a statement in the first game tonight after missing much of the season, with 25 shots against him and a save percentage of .920, his elusiveness saved a lot of shots from New York.
Carolina gave some trouble to Islanders goalie, Semyon Varlamov with the moving screen, executing well in front of the net. Tracking the puck in front of the box has been an advantage for the Canes and they continue to make a way when people don’t think there is one.
