A packed Lenovo Center witnessed a great first two periods for the Carolina Hurricanes, as the annual Preseason Community Game was a rousing success. Unfortunately the lack of goalie depth was also on display
as the Panthers roared back from a 2-0 deficit to take the game 4-2.
Tickets were General Admission at just $10 plus fees with fans able to sit anywhere, and the fans took advantage as they filled out every section. The atmosphere sounded closer to an important regular season game. The Panthers played their part by sending up a roster that will likely have no NHL regulars on it. Meanwhile the Hurricanes had their likely top line of Aho-Ehlers-Jarvis starting, as well as Jesperi Kotkaniemi centering a line with Andrei Svechnikov and top prospect Bradly Nadeau. Both lines showed out, though only one was able to score.
The Canes outshot the Panthers 17-3 in the first period, scored twice, and had about three minutes straight on the Power Play with a solid minute of 5-on-3. Panthers goalie Daniil Tarasov kept the Canes off the scoresheet during the Power Play, but couldn’t hold them back the entire period.
Not long after the conclusion of the Power Plays, an odd sequence created the first Carolina goal. Mike Reilly blasted a shot from the blue line in on Tarasov, but in front of him the Canes’ Givani Smith and Florida’s Ben Harpur were jawing at each other. Ryan Suzuki was able to deflect the puck by Tarasov, followed immediately by Smith and Harpur fighting. The goal stood, and the Canes were off and running.
Six minutes later, Svechnikov fed a great pass from the board behind the goal to a wide open Kotkaniemi who didn’t hesitate to shoot, getting it by Tarasov. It was good to see the chemistry early as the the number two center position is one fans are keeping an eye on, and if Kotkaniemi can continue to produce it would answer a lot of questions. The Canes went into the locker room after the first up 2-0.
The second period was a little more disjointed as the Canes were called for their first two penalties of the night, and the kill did the job by keeping the Panthers off the board. Late in the second the Canes got another chance at the man advantage and again had a couple good looks, but were unable to connect. Through two periods the Canes had a 35-8 shot advantage but still led by a 2-0 score.
It looked like Andersen was going to play the whole game, but some action at the end of the second finished his night, and Amir Miftakov relieved him for the third, which is where the game went south for the Canes. After the game coach Rod Brind’Amour said the plan was to only play him half the game, but his lack of action necessitated him finishing out the period.
The Canes started the third with another empty Power Play—going 0-5 on the night. Not long after, Ben Harpur, Noah Gregor, and Michael Benning all scored to turn the game around for the Panthers. Gregor’s goal was perhaps the most egregious as it came off a misplay behind the net from Miftakov, and the puck landed right in Gregor’s stick for an empty net goal. Benning was able to just get one over the line to give the Panthers the lead, and then when the Canes pulled Miftakov, Jack Studnicka was credited with a empty netter when a clear trickled all the way into the cage.
Overall a lot of positives for the Canes and the crowd was entertained, but there’ll be a lot to look for from the third period.
The Canes are in action next on Friday Night in Tampa before wrapping up the home portion of the preseason against Nashville on Sunday.
