Recap: Canes Earn Shootout Win In Tampa, 4-3

TAMPA, FL. -For a third consecutive contest the Carolina Hurricanes found a way to win following regulation, taking a 4-3 shootout victory from the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday.

The Story

The contest began with what may have been Carolina's best first period of the season thus far.
Including what felt like chance after chance for the club, the Canes put 15 shots onto Andrei Vasilevskiy in the opening 20 minutes. Described as "the best goalie in the league" by Rod Brind'Amour Wednesday morning, Tampa Bay's backstop was up for the test on 14 of the 15, but a quick snap release from Seth Jarvis gave the visitors the first lead of the night.

Taking their advantage into the middle frame, it was unfortunately the Canes' poise that lost them control of the affair in the second.
What could have been a four-goal period for the home team was limited to just three after an early goal from Vladislav Namestnikov was waved off due to a distinct kicking motion.
The disallowed tally would keep the bout evened for just a few more minutes, but Tampa Bay would eventually unload for three. A Ross Colton power play goal made it a 1-1 and fewer than four minutes later Nick Paul gave his club their first lead of the night.
Martin Necas temporarily stopped the bleeding with a power play goal of his own for Carolina, but before the period concluded Nikita Kucherov countered on a five-on-three for Tampa Bay.

Kucherov's fifth of the season and the go-ahead goal came when Carolina had both Jordan Martinook and Jalen Chatfield in the penalty box, each taking infractions on Colton during the same series of play.
Despite the momentum swing and cashing in on just two out of 36 shots through two periods, the Canes kept the foot on the gas for the final frame of regulation. Outshooting the opposition for a third consecutive period, hitting a total of 50 along the way, the team needed a timely effort late in the game while still down a goal.
Inside the final seven minutes of play, while shorthanded once again, Brady Skjei led a rush up the ice with Sebastian Aho and Jesper Fast. It concluded with the team forcing overtime.

Although they had another opportunity to win the game with a power play during the three-on-three, the game trudged on to the skills competition for the second time in as many games for the team.
A lengthy six rounds later, Aho and Teuvo Teravainen emerged as the heroes for Carolina.

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They Said It

Sebastian Ahoin the moments immediately following his game-deciding goal in the shootout...
"We just stuck with it. A lot of bounces didn't go our way. It would've been an easy game to get frustrated and let it go, but we stuck with it and it was a big win."
Brady Skjeidescribing his all-important game-tying goal...
"I tried to break it up at our blue line and then Fishy was yelling that we had a three-on-two, so I knew I had a little bit of time. I gave the puck to him, he found me and I saw a little opening just right of the defenders shin pad and luckily it went in."
Jordan Staaloffering his assessment of the contest...
"I thought we did everything well. At five-on-five I think we controlled the game completely. They got some momentum on their power play and that seems to be a common occurence here, but we found a way to battle through it. We started to play a little bit more five-on-five and everything was a little bit more solid after that."
Rod Brind'Amourensuring that Frederik Andersen wasn't overlooked, before providing his overarching feelings on the win...
"When it mattered, he was huge. They really only had one chance in the third and it was a half breakaway. He made the save. He had to. Then obviously the shootout was huge. You know what you're getting with the other guy, Vasilevskiy, and he showed why again tonight. But I loved the way our guys played all game. It was solid, top to bottom."

Bonus Notes

• Brent Burns added an assist on Necas' power play goal, moving his point streak to five games. He is the first defenseman age 37 years of age or older to have a point streak of five games in Whalers/Canes franchise history.
• Finishing with 55 shots on goal, tonight's output was the second most by any NHL team thus far this season. Florida had 58 in a win over Ottawa last week. (H/T Twitter.com/@CoryLav)
• Prior to tonight's game-deciding goal, Sebastian Aho had been 0-for-8 in his last eight shootout attempts. His most recent goal was November 26, 2017. (H/T Twitter.com/@CanesStats)
• Frederik Andersen moves to 5-2 with the victory, turning away 23 out of 26, plus five out of six in the shootout. Andersen is now 7/9 in the shootout this week, denying Alexander Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point.
• Carolina advances to 7-2-1 on the season, reclaiming the Metropolitan Division lead for the time being.

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What's Next?

The Canes will travel back to Raleigh immediately post-game, turning the page to get ready for a Friday night meeting against the Sabres.
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