1. Digging In and Fighting Back
The Hurricanes held a 2-1 lead in the second period and, at the time, seemed to be cruising along.
"We were in good shape," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said.
Then, in a span of 28 short seconds late in the second period, the Canes saw their one-goal lead degenerate into a one-goal deficit.
Kailer Yamamoto tied the game at two on the power play with a shot that ricocheted off the post and bounced in off the back of James Reimer.
"Weird bounce," Brind'Amour said. "We block a shot and it lands right on the guy's stick. That's going to happen."
Just 28 seconds after that strange, unfortunate bounce, the Canes failed to clear the zone, and Josh Archibald went top-shelf for his eighth goal of the season. Suddenly, the Oilers had the one-goal advantage, which they carried into the second intermission.
"I think the game just flipped. That happens," Brind'Amour said. "I thought our guys showed real good resolve in the third. It was business. I thought we probably deserved better."
The Canes entered the third period down a goal but didn't waver in their game plan and attitude.
"That was one of those games where I thought we had to dig in, and I thought we did," Brind'Amour said.
"We have the feeling on the bench that we can come back. That's a good thing," Sebastian Aho said.
Sure enough, with just over five minutes left in regulation, the Canes tied the game on Aho's second of the contest.
Digging in, fighting back, earning a point and forcing extra hockey.
"We grinded out a valuable point," James Reimer said.
2. That's the Way it Goes
Three-on-three overtime was as advertised between two young, skilled, speedy teams. The action was up-and-down the ice, and unfortunately the Oilers got the last look. Archibald's second goal of the game gave Edmonton the extra point.
"Sometimes the pucks bounce your way and sometimes they don't," Reimer said. "You hate losing games, but at least we battled and got a point."
The Canes, though, had their looks, too. Their best was probably Aho's breakaway, which was denied by Mike Smith once on the initial shot and a second time on the rebound.
"I had a great chance, I just couldn't put it in," Aho said. "It sucks. I just have to put that in."
3. Keep on Swimming
In his 300th career game, Sebastian Aho recorded three points - two goals and an assist - to extend his season-long point streak to nine games (9g, 6a). Aho's two goals add to his career-best total, which now stands at 33 in 58 games and ranks fifth in the league.
Aho tallied his first of the game in the second period, when he accepted an up-ice feed from Jaccob Slavin, skated in with room and speed and beat Smith blocker side to give the Canes a 2-1 advantage.
