After losing to the Winnipeg Jets days ago, the Carolina Hurricanes fell to the Edmonton Oilers in a mid-week matchup 6-1. Once again finishing the game leading on shots on goal, the Canes were still unable to execute on offense and get pucks in the net.
While Carolina (14-10-1) started the season off somewhat strong, the Oilers (10-12-1) began this season off with a 2-10 record but have recently bounced back due to valiant efforts from center Connor McDavid. Despite the Oilers’ improved play, Carolina did not have the energy heading into the game in order to put up a good fight.
It was an all-around rough game for the visiting team. The first period saw the second fastest back-to-back goals in Oilers history — two in a minute and on two shots. Just after the first puck was dropped and the clock started to tick, left wing Warren Foegele slipped a pass to center Ryan McLeod who buried the puck past Carolina netminder Pyotr Kochetkov.
McLeod wasn’t alone on the scorecard for long with defenseman Mattias Ekholm joining 13 seconds later, bringing the score to 2-0 less than a minute into the game. Five minutes later, left wing Zach Hyman got a goal himself — his first of three on the night — and quickly gave the Oilers a 3-0 lead.
Being down by three goals is never easy to come back from, but with 55 minutes left in the game, it seemed like Carolina could have a chance to tie it up. To create a change on the ice, head coach Rod Brind’Amour pulled Kochetkov and placed goaltender Antti Raanta between the pipes. In just five minutes, Kochetkov finished the night with a .500 save percentage.
The goalie change didn’t stop Hyman though, scoring another goal 10 minutes after his first and giving Edmonton a 4-0 lead. When the first 20 buzzer sounded, the Carolina bench marched its way to the locker room in the hopes of changing the momentum.
The second frame was more defensive than the first, with both teams tied at 10 shots on goal. Edmonton scored once again — courtesy of Foegele — and the Canes’ fate was all but sealed.
With a 5-0 score heading into the third frame, energy was low on the Canes’ side of the ice. Captain center Jordan Staal got the Hurricanes on the board seven minutes into the period, but it wasn’t enough to light a spark of hope. Hyman completed the hat trick two minutes after Staal’s goal, slipping a wrist shot past Raanta.
Once again, it seems like Carolina’s problem is executing on offense. Finishing with 40 shots on goal compared to the Oilers’ 34 — including having the most shots on goal in every period — the score should reflect a buzzing offense. The Oilers forced 23 takeaways and had 17 blocked shots in their attempt to make the game as hard as possible.
Carolina is still sitting at second in the Metropolitan Division, but other teams are quickly closing in. The Hurricanes will take on Calgary on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m.
