Recap: Canes Keep Streaks Alive With Shootout Victory Over Devils
Necas forces overtime inside the final five minutes, Svechnikov wins it in the shootout
Starting a fifth consecutive game and entering with a shutout streak of 127:35, Antti Raanta played an important part in keeping the game scoreless early. Carolina offered New Jersey two power plays in the opening 9:20, forcing the veteran netminder to turn away a few key tests and get into a groove.
Opposed by Mackenzie Blackwood at the other end, the two netminders kept the contest scoreless going into the second frame.
In the middle 20 minutes, Carolina was able to get to more of the way that they want to play though, then striking first for the 10th time in 11 games via Derek Stepan.
Video: CAR@NJD: Stepan nets opening goal in tight
Stepan's third of the year allowed the Canes to play with the lead for a few moments, and although they were establishing themselves as the stronger team, their lead would not last long.
Unfortunately, for Rod Brind'Amour's club, the home team was able to get a spectacular effort from Jack Hughes, as he tied the game with just 3:42 remaining in the second. Driving to the outside of Jaccob Slavin, the number one overall pick in 2019 then pulled back to the far side of Raanta to snap his shutout streak at 163:52.
The goal appeared to spring some life into the Prudential Center crowd and would logically give the Devils some momentum heading into the third.
Just 1:14 after the goal New Jersey then headed to the power play as Brett Pesce took a seat in the box, furthering the notion that the game was for the Devils to take heading into the final 20 minutes.
Instead, a gaffe while playing the puck from Blackwood gave Sebastian Aho the puck with a wide-open net to shoot at, giving Carolina the 2-1 advantage heading into the third.
Video: CAR@NJD: Aho scores SHG on a breakaway
However, that momentum for the Canes would not last long, giving way to what would become a chaotic third period.
The two sides would combine for five goals, with three belonging to New Jersey and eventually sending the game to overtime. Jesper Bratt scored his first of two in the period to start the frame, however, Carolina had a response just 1:49 later via Stepan's second of the afternoon.
But the Canes 3-2 lead wouldn't last long.
Just 34 seconds, in fact.
Nico Hischier evened the contest for New Jersey and then 3:10 later the Devils claimed their first lead of the day courtesy of Bratt.
Similar to the end of the second, it looked like the home team was in control and could take their 4-3 advantage to the final horn. But the Canes had other ideas once again.
After a string of penalties to New Jersey, Carolina was afforded a two-man advantage inside the final five minutes. It was one that Martin Necas would etch his team-leading 36th point of the year in, tying the game at 4-4.
The three-on-three overtime saw both teams create high-level chances, resulting in what could only be described as the most insane bonus period of the season. Per NaturalStatTrick.com, the two teams combined for five high-danger chances in five minutes, with each goaltender having to come up with game-continuing stops.
When play reached the shootout the teams would need just three rounds, as Raanta stopped all three attempts from New Jersey, and Andrei Svechnikov scored the game-deciding tally in round two.
Rod Brind'Amourproviding his takeaways from the win...
"I thought we played really well, we just gave up some uncharacteristic turnovers and things that we don't normally do. You can't do that against this team. They came down and boom. I liked our resiliency though. We kept playing. In overtime we had a bunch of chances to win the game. Rants would like to have a couple back, but then in the shootout he was phenomenal. There were a lot of ups and downs but I like that we stuck with what we were trying to accomplish."
Antti Raantaon his 3-0-0 week and the differences between the three games...
"The whole team is defending really well. Sometimes you get the shutout and you feel like you didn't have to do much. Then you come here today and you feel good in the first period, then all of a sudden the third period starts and they have three goals in a quick fashion. You have to try and forget them and get back out there. You have to do your job. It was a battle out there today. It was a little bit different from the last two games, but when you come back and win it in a shootout, it gives you a good feeling. We're happy to get the two points."
Sebastian Ahooffering his thoughts on the contest...
"We probably made it a little harder on ourselves than we had to, but you have to give them some credit too. They're a good team. They made a nice comeback, but Roddy always says it's always about the next shift. We go down a goal, we get a power play and we make it count. It was huge. Rants was huge in the net at the end."
The Canes are scheduled to be off on Monday before then taking on the Rangers Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
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