No player in NHL history has scored a goal lacrosse-style more times than Carolina right wing Andrei Svechnikov. Only Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras has as many with both forwards tallying three so far in their young careers.
Coming at 10:55 in the second period, Svechnikov’s goal got the Hurricanes (50-22-7) going and proved to be the turning point in the game. After being shut out by Bruins (46-18-15) goaltender Jeremy Swayman for just under 31 minutes, Svechnikov broke the metaphorical ice in incredible fashion.
“He’s so good at that, I couldn’t believe it,” Swayman said. “It was my goal to never get Michiganned, that was put in the toilet today.”
Svechnikov’s signature move wasn’t called a goal immediately, but that didn’t stop the Russian from pointing at the goal; he knew it went in the whole time. It wasn’t the first time the Hurricanes had a goal decision go to review in the game; however, the first one didn’t turn out as favorably.
Two minutes into the game, center Martin Necas had a goal from a shallow angle taken off the board after a video review determined the puck didn’t completely cross the line. The rest of the first period was a grueling battle for both teams.
Each team only accumulated four shots on goal, and things got heated between two teams that have recent playoff history. It was an uber-physical game with each team racking up over 30 hits.
The Canes were already pouring it on in the second period even before Svechnikov got them on the board, but his goal opened the floodgates. At 13:05 in the second period, left wing Teuvo Teravainen got enough on a Svechnikov pass thrown to the slot to beat Swayman through the legs.
On Teravainen’s goal, both Svechnikov and defenseman Jaccob Slavin recorded their 30th assist of the season. If Svechnikov earns one point in the next three games, the Canes will have six 50+ point scorers for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
Thanks to defenseman Charlie McAvoy, the Bruins went into the second intermission only down one goal after he one-timed a deflected shot that Canes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov couldn’t react fast enough to.
With his play in this game, and over the past few months, Kochetkov has made a name for himself and should be in consideration for the Calder-Memorial trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best rookie. Kochetkov’s poise and ability to always track the puck under pressure will make him a key piece to the Hurricanes playoff run this postseason.
Center Jake Guentzel extended his point streak to six games when he provided an insurance goal for Carolina halfway through the third. From in tight, Guentzel batted a puck out of mid-air which trickled through Swayman’s pads.
It didn’t cross the line until Boston center Pavel Zacha tried clearing the puck off the line and failed by hitting the back of Swayman’s pads, and it went into the net. Guentzel’s goal needed some luck, but you can’t deny he didn’t create the opportunity with his ability to process the game quickly.
The dagger came when center Seth Jarvis scored his 30th goal and second shorthanded goal of the season. Defenseman Jalen Chatfield sprung Jarvis in transition and after missing his original shot, Jarvis got to the rebound and scored on a wrap-around opportunity.
With only three games left for both Boston and Carolina, the two teams are tied at 107 points and very much still in the race for the Presidents’ trophy, awarded to the team who finishes the regular season with the most points. The Canes trail the New York Rangers by only three points who sit atop the league’s standings.
It was only five days prior that the Bruins shut down the Canes 4-1 in Raleigh but the Hurricanes flipped the script to earn their 50th win on the season. For the third consecutive season, the Canes have clinched 50 wins, something only four other franchises have ever done.
The Hurricanes will continue their road trip to end the season when they take on the St. Louis Blues on Friday, April 12th at 8 p.m.
