Andersen helps Hurricanes defeat Canadiens in return

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Frederik Andersen made 24 saves in his return, and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 at PNC Arena on Thursday.

The 34-year-old goalie hadn't played since Nov. 2, missing 50 games because of a blood clotting issue.

“You can never predict what’s going to happen,” Andersen said. “Obviously, I can just be happy about being back and still take it a day at a time and just be happy to be with the guys.”

Brady Skjei scored two goals, and Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (37-19-6), who are 7-2-1 in their past 10.

“I think we were a little sluggish to start, more from the [four] days off,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “You could just tell it was going to take some time to get our legs. We were just a little off. I thought we played a little better as the game went on.”

Joshua Roy scored for the Canadiens (24-29-10), who have lost eight of 10 (2-6-2). Sam Montembeault made 35 saves.

“You have to be able to understand what kind of game is going to be played,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “You have to be able to adapt to different opponents and the style they’re going to play. It’s just, keep getting better at the different type of game you’re going to have to play, to not just be a one-trick pony.”

Roy gave Montreal a 1-0 lead at 5:53 of the first period when his wrist shot from the high slot deflected off the stick of Carolina defenseman Jalen Chatfield and past Andersen’s blocker.

“Sometime in the first, I felt like I was wasting energy almost, like I was overmoving and not being as efficient as I usually am,” Andersen said. “Obviously that gets you a little bit tired. I’m sure that will come. Regardless of the result, I knew I was going to be a little rusty. But after the first intermission, I got to settle in.”

The Hurricanes tied it 1-1 at 13:02. Skjei took a pass from Svechnikov along the left boards, skated to the slot and scored with his backhand.

“It’s some confidence in myself being able to produce like that,” Skjei said. “Our coaching staff allows our defensemen to get up in the play and gives us the green light. It’s obviously nice that we’re able to go whenever, and our forwards do a great job backing us up.”

Stefan Noesen put the Hurricanes ahead 2-1 at 19:35 of the second period. Montembeault stopped Jack Drury’s shot from the right hash marks, but Noesen tapped in the rebound with his backhand.

Andersen kept it a one-goal game early in the third period. He made a glove save on Josh Anderson off the rush at 1:45, then stopped consecutive shots by Brendan Gallagher in front six seconds later.

“I know he had a lot of doubts about ever even lacing them up again,” Brind’Amour said. “Just to knock that one out and, whether we won or lost, just to get back out there doing something he loves to do. So that was probably the biggest takeaway.”

Skjei scored his 10th goal of the season to make it 3-1 at 15:31 of the third period. He took a stretch pass from Brett Pesce at the Canadiens blue line and scored with a wrist shot glove side on a breakaway.

“I was screaming for it,” Skjei said. “Pesce always has his head up. I got a step behind the guy and yelled for it, and it was right on my stick. I can’t say enough about Pesce and what a good player he is.”

Svechnikov scored an empty-net goal with 1:03 remaining for the 4-1 final.

The Canadiens were 0-for-5 on the power play with two shots on goal. They are 1-for-20 with the man-advantage in their past seven games.

“They’re a really good [penalty kill]. They bring a lot of pressure,” Montreal captain Nick Suzuki said. “That brings a big challenge, and we just didn’t execute. It wasn’t good enough for us.”

NOTES: After the game, the Hurricanes acquired forward Jake Guentzel in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Michael Bunting, forward prospects Vasily Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen, the rights to forward Cruz Lucius, a conditional first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft. Carolina also received defenseman Ty Smith in the trade. Bunting was held out of the game for trade-related reasons. … The Hurricanes are 16-1-1 in their past 18 games against the Canadiens. … Noesen has 14 goals, an NHL career high. ... Carolina forward Teuvo Teravainen extended his point streak to five games (two goals, three assists). … The Hurricanes placed goalie Antti Raanta, defenseman Tony DeAngelo and forward Brendan Lemieux on waivers Thursday. … Skjei reached the 10-goal mark for the second straight season. The only other defensemen to do so in Hurricanes history are Dougie Hamilton (three seasons; 2018-21) and Justin Faulk (three seasons; 2014-17).