Recap: Canes Can't Catch Canadiens

MONTREAL - Andrei Svechnikov scored two goals, but the Carolina Hurricanes couldn't keep pace with the Montreal Canadiens in a 6-4 loss.
Jaccob Slavin and Sebastian Aho also scored third-period goals for the Hurricanes, but quick responses from the Canadiens proved difficult to overcome.
Here are five takeaways from tonight's game.

One
There is no quit in this team, but the Hurricanes can't out-score their mistakes.
Careless play with the puck and turnovers spelled trouble for the Hurricanes more often than they should have tonight, and they came at untimely junctures of the game.
"We weren't taking care of the puck," Slavin said. "We've got to stay right on them and keep our foot on the gas. We can't take a breath."
"I'm not happy. We needed much more out of certain guys and didn't have it tonight. That's frustrating, especially after we fight to get back," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "Terrible game, and we're playing terrible, but we dig and get back and make really bad decisions. That's the frustrating part for me. How we started was really frustrating for me. I don't get that one."
The Hurricanes did indeed start slow out of the gate - they didn't register a shot in the first seven or so minutes of the game and were out-shot 12-4 in the first period - but Petr Mrazek was sharp. He was the reason the Canes remained in the game through a scoreless first period and a 2-1 deficit in the second.

"He played awesome tonight," Slavin said. "The first two periods we weren't there, and he kept us in it."
"We had a good goaltending performance that held us in there and kept us in the game," Brind'Amour said.
Two
When the Hurricanes selected Svechnikov with the second overall pick in this summer's draft, they knew they were getting size, speed and skill in an one incredibly talented package. All three of those traits were on display with his highlight-reel goal that gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead in the second period.
After accepting a pass at center ice, Svechnikov put his shoulder down, turned on the afterburners and blew past Shea Weber, who could only hope to reach with his stick. But there was no stopping Svechnikov, who then roofed a backhand beauty.

"He had a great night," Slavin said. "That first goal was just power."
Svechnikov wasn't finished. Just 23 seconds into the third period, Justin Williams placed a nice pass right on Svechnikov's tape, and the Russian nearly scored on another backhand shot had it not been for Carey Price's diving save. But, Svechnikov corralled the rebound and put it in the open cage to tie the game, albeit for a very brief moment.
"Right now, I'm getting more confidence in every game," Svechnikov said.

"You can see the confidence coming," Slavin said. "He's a strong kid who skates really well. When he starts driving wide, you know something's going to happen."
"We did have a coming out party a little bit for Svech. … He looked like he was trying to win the game for us. That's what we need more of," Brind'Amour said. "He's getting to be dynamic with the puck."
Three
Turnovers and unforced errors led to goals for Matthew Peca and Jeff Petry in the second period to put the Canadiens ahead, 2-1, heading into the third.
"Our D have to be better. Let's be honest," Brind'Amour said. "Holy moly. That's supposed to be the best part of our group."
Despite fighting back to tie the game with Svechnikov's goal in the third period, the Hurricanes couldn't get out of their own way.
On the very next shift, just 22 seconds later, Brendan Gallagher skated across the crease and scored to restore Montreal's two-goal advantage.
"When we get one, we've got to get right back on them," Slavin said. "It wasn't good enough for us."
Four
Slavin made it interesting in the back half of the third period, when he stepped up with plenty of ice in front of him at the point and scored on a well-placed wrist shot to make it a one-goal game.

"Phil (DI Giuseppe) made a nice play to cut back and find me," Slavin explained. "I saw the open net and tried to put it there."
But again, the Canadiens would get it right back 93 seconds later, as Shea Weber fed Andrew Shaw in transition to make it 5-3.
Aho made a power move to cut to the net and score with 4:22 left in regulation, but an empty-net goal in the game's waning minutes sealed the victory for Montreal.

"We can't make mistakes like we're making right after scoring goals to tie things up. The guys we count on are making mistakes, and that's a big problem," Brind'Amour said. "We lost battles at real crucial times with guys who shouldn't be doing that."
Five
What to take out of a game like this? The positives: The Canes, despite a slow start and despite falling behind multiple times, didn't quit, and they scored four goals on Price after being starved for offense recently.
"Hopefully we can take a little bit of scoring confidence," Slavin said. "As a whole team, we've just got to be better from start to finish."
Slavin's point is the kicker: The Canes didn't play a complete game, and it cost them, despite what they might have done well. So, what has to improve?
"The turnovers, number one. The puck's on your tape and suddenly it's on their tape. That can't happen," Brind'Amour said. "Just in general, we weren't competitive enough as a team to start the game. We got what we deserved, really. Yeah, we came back and played pretty good - or better. We looked like a team. But you can't win in the NHL with our group when you play a period of hockey. That's not going to happen."
Up Next
The Hurricanes will host the Washington Capitals on Friday night, the beginning of a five-game homestand heading into the three-day holiday break.