Without registering a shot on goal, right wing Jackson Blake earned a goal and three points in the Carolina Hurricanes’ (44-24-4) 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens (33-30-9).
It was Blake’s first three-point game as he continues to impress in his rookie season. Before training camp, there weren’t many who thought Blake would crack the Hurricanes roster straight out of college, and there were likely none who thought he would be getting first-line minutes this late in the season.
“He’s always all over the puck; he’s an impact player every shift,” said left wing Taylor Hall. “I’m really happy to see he’s just kind of stuck with it after when he’s not getting the production he wants, but it’s going to come and he is going to be a really good player for us for a long time.”
He’s the definition of a puck hunter and refuses to lose possession once he gets it. He plays like that every game, but tonight, Blake finally got some puck luck against Montreal.
After the Canadiens caught the Canes sleeping to start the game — scoring 23 seconds off the opening draw — Blake notched his 12th of the year 18 seconds later to tie it back up in the opening minute. Center Sebastian Aho won the offensive zone draw and got it back to defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who fired a shot that bounced off Blake’s skate, a Canadien skate and into the net.
“That’s probably the best bounce you’re ever going to get, right off a skate, and then their guy puts it in the net,” Blake said. “… I thought I was playing the right way for the most part the last 20 games, so it feels good to get rewarded a little bit there.”
It took less than 20 minutes for the referees to lose control of the game as a regular-season contest turned into one that was more fitting for the playoffs. Defenseman Dmitry Orlov hip-checked Canadiens right wing Josh Andersen in open ice, which drew a roughing penalty. At the end of the period, Aho ignited a brawl for jabbing at a covered puck.
A team that is known to shy away from hits and physical play stepped into the fight against Montreal, especially in the second period, where the Canes produced one of their best periods of the season. No play represented the tone of the middle period more than when defenseman Sean Walker hit Montreal left wing Emil Heineman.
Despite a lop-sided affair in the beginning, the second period dragged on for a while still tied. That was until Hall scored on the power play. In his 900th NHL game, Hall scored from the bumper position, netting his fifth goal in the last three games.
Almost singlehandedly, Hall has dragged the Hurricanes’ power play back to life. He’s gotten hot right when the team needs him to as the postseason approaches.
“You know, 900 games now that I’m getting up there, it’s special to do that with these guys,” Hall said. “I’m having a blast, as you probably can tell.”
Hall’s goal wouldn’t have been possible if not for the hard work of Aho a minute earlier. Fore-checking all by himself, Aho hounded the puck down, creating pressure on Montreal’s defensemen until he got possession and drew a penalty. Although not rewarded immediately on the man advantage, Aho got his 27th goal of the year a few minutes later.
At the 16:10 mark of the period, Aho and center Seth Jarvis orchestrated a near-flawless 2-on-1 play that ended with Aho one-timing a saucer pass from Jarvis. With two assists, Jarvis has 10 points in the last 10 games.
For the final 20 minutes, the Hurricanes sat on their two-goal lead, primarily thanks to goaltender Frederik Andersen. Andersen now has won six-straight starts for the second time this season, allowing two or fewer goals in his last seven contests.
Preserving the team’s lead, Andersen did enough to hold off the Canadiens before right wing Andrei Svechnikov scored on an empty net in his first game back. Missing the last seven games due to an upper body injury, Svechnikov returned to the lineup without skipping a beat.
It’s nice to get [Svechnikov] back, you see what kind of asset he is and what he brings to the game,” Hall said. “Once he gets up and running, it’s pretty scary.”
Winning 10 of their last 12 games, the Hurricanes will look to continue their hot streak when they take on the New York Islanders on Sunday. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m.
