Kaydee Gawlik
Vancouver Canucks forward, Emerson Etem, advances the puck into Carolina Hurricanes territory. After the first period, the Canucks took an early lead during the first period of the game on Friday, January 15th, 2016 in PNC Arena -- ending the first period with a 1-0 lead. This was Vancouver's 45th game this season, winning the away game with a 3-2 score in overtime.
The in-form Carolina Hurricanes traveled away from home Sunday night to face the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Console Energy Center in a crucial division game, only to get demolished 5-0.
The Hurricanes (20-19-8) entered the game high in confidence after winning four straight, followed by an OT loss, meaning that the team had dropped only one point in its last five games. The Penguins (21-16-7) were trying to avoid a third overtime loss in a row, with one of those losses coming against the Canes last Tuesday.
Pittsburgh jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first 10 minutes of the first period of the game. Defenseman Olli Maatta scored the first after rounding left winger Jeff Skinner and ripping one from close range that found the top left corner of the net. Left winger Conor Sheary doubled the lead just six minutes later.
The second period didn’t get any better for the Canes who looked to reach the break without conceding again, but failed to do so when center Sidney Crosby found the net on a power play with just 40 seconds remaining in the period.
The Canes had dug a hole that only deepened in the third period and fell behind 4-0 after Crosby fired one top shelf on a breakaway chance seven minutes into the period for his second goal of the game. Defenseman Trevor Daley sealed the game with six minutes to go, putting the Penguins up 5-0.
The thrashing was the Penguins way of getting back at the Hurricanes after losing two in a row to their division rival team, and the win puts them just a point out of a wildcard spot.
After a terrific run of form which vaulted the Hurricanes up the standings, they have come back down to earth with a second-straight loss. The Canes now sit two points below a wildcard spot but have played more games than any other team in the division.
The Canes will look to find their mojo again when they travel to Toronto Thursday to face the Maple Leafs.