RECAP: Red Wings shut out in Carolina, 4-0

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Detroit Red Wings were unable to get their offense going on Thursday night, falling in a 4-0 shutout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

Goalie James Reimer made 29 saves for Detroit (36-27-9; 81 points), which was held off the scoresheet for the second time in the last three games. Turning aside all 24 shots he faced, goaltender Frederik Andersen posted his second shutout this season to help Carolina (46-21-7; 99 points) clinch a berth in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"They're a good team and capitalize on their chances," Ben Chiarot said about the Hurricanes, who swept the three-game season series against the Red Wings. "They're a team contending for a Stanley Cup right now. They know how to play, been playing that way for a long time. Lot of dangerous players over there. You give them a couple chances to put it in the net, they’re going to do it and obviously we didn’t capitalize on ours.”

After a scoreless first period in which Detroit was outshot 15-3, Carolina took control in the second period, beginning at the 4:42 mark with Sebastian Aho’s goal at the left post that made it 1-0.

"I know the shot volume was extremely lopsided, but that's them,” Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said. “If you look at the underlying numbers in the first (period) it was not that bad, probably even with Grade-A chances. We were the team that had the looks at the end of the period, two right on the doorstep. Obviously we would have liked to steal the period and didn't."

Seth Jarvis gave Carolina a 2-0 lead at 5:39 of the second period, scoring a power-play goal from the slot. Extending it to 3-0 just 5:07 later, Martin Necas one-timed Evgeny Kuznetsov’s cross-slot pass in the left face-off circle.

"Obviously those two quick goals," Seider said when asked what went wrong for Detroit in the second period. "Other than that, I think we still had pretty good looks. I think honestly, the score didn't translate the whole game. We know they're a team that shoots a lot."

Brady Skjei capped the scoring at 4-0, putting his own rebound home at 16:23 of the second period with a shot from the left face-off circle.

Seider said he liked the way Detroit kept fightning in the third period.

"It's obviously hard to push when you're down 4-0," Seider said. "I think we still didn't give up on it. I think that's a big positive. We stayed together as a team and maybe that's something to take away from the game."

The Red Wings continue to battle an illness that is going around their dressing room at an inopportune time, as Patrick Kane and Austin Czarnik were the latest victims and did not dress against the Hurricanes.

"We knew we were going to be up against it tonight," Lalonde said. "Not only where our lineup was, but to have it happen to you right before the game is a bit of a stinger. That's a tough team to play 11 forwards with because of the pace they play at.”

NEXT UP: Detroit will look to snap its three-game winless streak on Saturday afternoon against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena.

QUOTABLE 

Lalonde on Thursday’s loss

“Again, it’s a lopsided score but I don’t think the underlying numbers are going to be that awful. Andersen was sneaky good. He made some big, Grade-A saves. They were better tonight. They got what they deserved, but there were some moments throughout the night that I think we can build on.”

Chiarot on if there was any feeling of deflation in the second period

“I just think it’s tough when we’re having a hard time finding the back of the net, knowing how hard we’re working, playing the right way and doing a lot of good things defensively. Nashville and Washinton, those were really good games for us. Putting the puck in the back of the net is tough for us right now. At times during this year, it felt like it was going to be never-ending for us.”

Seider on not being able to gain any ground in the Eastern Conference Playoffs race

"Our season is on the line right now and we can't really find ways to dominate games and be a force. Luckily, for some reason, other teams are missing out on the opportunity and it's still up to us. We just got to, I don't know, wake up pretty soon and be the team that we definitely can be that everybody saw in the past this year. I think then we're hopefully on the right track."

Seider on how the Red Wings can turn things around

"A great opportunity with an early game in Florida. A team that's always tough to play against, but I think we've shown we can beat them, especially in their rink. That will be a big step in the right direction, if we get two points out of that building."