Recap: Canes Settle for Point in Shootout Loss to Wings

The Carolina Hurricanes tied the game late in regulation but settled for a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY | STATISTICS

Plus/Minus

Plus: Fighting back
Give the Canes credit. Though they weren't able to come away with a second point, whether in regulation, overtime or the shootout, they fought through some late adversity to at least save a point.
With 6:20 to play in regulation, Adam Erne went top-shelf on a backhand to put the Red Wings up, 4-3.
Nino Niederreiter appeared to have the answer about a minute later, getting his stick on a point shot to deflect the puck past Thomas Greiss. However, Detroit challenged for goaltender interference, and after a review, the officials ruled it no goal, asserting that Niederreiter impacted Greiss' ability to make a save.
The Canes still didn't quit, though.
With four minutes left in regulation, Sebastian Aho stepped up from the left circle and fired a shot past Greiss to tie the game at four - and that one wasn't coming off the board.

"You have to give the guys credit for hanging in there. We weren't good, really, but we get one that I think should have been a goal that wasn't a goal. They didn't hang their heads," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "They went right back out in the next couple of shifts and at least get us a point and chance to win the game in overtime or the shootout. That's the positive."
Minus: Not getting the extra point
The fight for first place in the Central Division is going to be tight down the stretch of the season, and in a home game against the last-place team in the division, you'd like to see the Canes come away with two points.
Detroit was on the receiving end of some favorable bounces all night. Dylan Larkin skated into a rebound to tie the game in the first period. Anthony Mantha deflected a shot in the slot. Friendly fire off the boot of Jordan Staal in front resulted in Valtteri Filppula tying the game in the second period.
But the Wings didn't just luck into those bounces.
"They worked hard tonight. They got their bounces from working hard. That's really what happened," Brind'Amour said. "Some weird goals, but beating us to the net, fighting in front of the net, they earned their two points tonight."
The point the Canes were able to salvage is certainly valuable, but …
"Nah, I think it's better to get two," Dougie Hamilton said.
Coming into the game, the Canes were 4-2 in overtime and 4-1 in the shootout. Andrei Svechnikov tallied the lone goal for the Canes in the shootout, which went a full seven rounds before Adam Erne scored the winning goal.
"We always want two points. It's better to have one than zero, but we've just got to be better," Martin Necas said. "It wasn't our best game. There wasn't really momentum we usually get."

Fist Bumps

Martin Necas
It didn't take long for the Canes to strike first. Hamilton pinched to keep the puck in on the far blue line. Then, Vincent Trocheck sent a cross across the offensive zone to Necas, who kicked the puck to his stick and snapped a shot by Greiss to put the Canes up 1-0 just 98 seconds into the game.

Jordan Staal
If Svechnikov's lacrosse-style goal is affectionately known as "The Svech," then cruising down the right wing and scoring on a far-side wrister should be known as "The Staal."
It's a signature Brothers Staal. Eric beat Martin Brodeur late in regulation of Game 7 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals with the shot. Jordan beat Braden Holtby in the third period with the shot to tie Game 7 of the 2019 First Round against Washington. Just a few days ago, Eric snapped off the overtime game-winner in familiar fashion his first game with the Montreal Canadiens.
With five-and-change left to play in the first period, Jordan dipped into his repertoire for "The Staal," beating Greiss from the right circle to tie the game at two.

Staal now has 13 goals through 38 games, his most in that stretch since he tallied 18 goals in his first 38 games in the 2011-12 season.
Dougie Hamilton
At nearly the midpoint of the contest, Hamilton jumped into the rush and beat Greiss with a quick shot to put the Canes ahead for a bit, 3-2.

Hamilton finished the night with a goal and an assist, his sixth multi-point effort of the season.

Stats Pack

13: With the primary assist on Necas' goal in the first period, Trocheck has now recorded at least a point in each of the last 13 games he's played (7g, 11a).
18: Hamilton has earned at least a point in 18 of his last 21 games played (5g, 17a).

Quote of the Night

"Sometimes you don't get the bounces." - Rod Brind'Amour

Up Next

Jordan Staal will play his 1,000th career NHL game when the Canes host his brother, Marc, and the Red Wings again on Monday.