#LGRW Final: Red Wings fall in series opener to Hurricanes, 2-1

DETROIT -- Goalie Jonathan Bernier continued his strong play at home this season, but the Detroit Red Wings could not slow down the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes, falling 2-1 on Sunday evening at Little Caesars Arena.

Bernier made 30 saves to keep the Red Wings in the game against a Hurricanes team that has won eight straight games and vaulted into first place in the NHL's Central Division.
Anthony Mantha notched his eighth goal of the season with less than 10 seconds remaining in the third period, with Filip Hronek adding his 15th assist of the season. Captain Dylan Larkin led all Red Wings in time on ice with 24:42 minutes and attempted a team-high six shots.

Dougie Hamilton scored a shorthanded goal in the second period and Nino Niederreiter tallied an insurance goal early in the third period to lead the way for Carolina. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves for the victory.
"We played hard, we competed. That's a good team over there." Larkin said after the game. "It's an emotional game, it was very much like a playoff game tonight. Close checking. I like how we hung in there with one of the best teams in our division. We had chances, we've just got to score."
The game was scoreless through the opening period and until the 15:13 mark of the second frame, when Hamilton broke in on a two-on-one while shorthanded and was able to roof a shot far side past Bernier.
Carolina extended the lead to 2-0 just 1:37 into the third period, when Niederreiter took a drop pass from Sebastian Aho and beat Bernier from the left circle.
The Red Wings continued to push and with 10 seconds left, they were able to break up the shutout. Mantha threw a shot from the circle that deflected off a Carolina player and snuck past Nedeljkovic.
Mantha has scored goals in three of the past five games, and Hronek picked up an assist for the third straight contest.
Despite the loss, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill commended Bernier's play, which has been consistent dating back to the 2019-20 campaign.
"He's been this for over a year-plus. That doesn't mean that he's in a groove. This just means this is who he is," Blashill said. "I think the guys have tons of confidence that he's going to give us a chance to win the hockey game, which he did again tonight."

Larkin is pleased with the progress he's seen, despite the Red Wings' record.
"I think the structure of our game, and working for each other, has been far better than what it was last year, and far better than it was at the beginning of the season, even," Larkin said. "If we stick with it, I do believe that we're going to be successful, and we're going to win games.
"We're going to be in these games that are close games against playoff teams, and teams that have made it far in the playoffs. We're going to be learning from it, and gaining experience, and winning these games."
The Red Wings and Hurricanes will conclude the two-game series on Tuesday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. (FOX Sports Detroit, 97.1 The Ticket) from Little Caesars Arena.