The Carolina Hurricanes continue to find ways to win. The team extended its franchise-best point streak to 13 games (9-0-4) in a 2-1 overtime come-from-behind win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night at PNC Arena, continuing its push to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Defenseman Noah Hanifin scored the game-winning goal for the Canes (35-27-14.) Forward Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist, forward Teuvo Teravainen had two assists and goalie Cam Ward played his second-straight strong game in net, stopping 23 of 24 Blue Jackets (49-19-8) shots for the win.
“We just try and keep building on good things in our game,” Skinner said. “They’re a good team; they’ve had some success. They play pretty tough-style hockey to generate offense, and they were doing that well tonight against us. You’ve just got to stick with it. You’ve got to believe in the guys. I think every night we’ve had someone else step up. Hanny [Hanifin] did a good job stepping up for us tonight.”
In sudden-death overtime, Skinner spun around a defender to the net and dropped a pass back that Hanifin ripped past Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo for a 2-1 win. It was the first overtime winner of Hanifin’s career; the second-year blueliner was grinning from ear to ear as he was mobbed by his teammates in the post game celebration.
“You always dream about those overtime goals,” Hanifin said. “It was my first one in the NHL, so it was pretty special. Even more importantly, it was a huge win for our team, so it was great.”
It looked doubtful for much of the game that the Canes would even earn a single standings point, let alone two. Trailing late in the third period with Korpisalo stopping several grade-A opportunities, it looked like a hard-luck loss was in the cards for Carolina. As they have many times on this point streak, however, the Canes found a way to stay with it.
The team finally broke through with 4:20 left in the third, as Skinner put a low shot on Korpisalo that deflected in off a defender’s skate to tie the game at one and ensure a huge standings point for the Canes.
“They’re a good team; they block a lot of shots,” Skinner said. “It seemed like we were getting some quality opportunities, and then when [the puck] was bouncing and laying in front we chose the wrong side or just couldn’t get a stick on it. It was a good job by the guys sticking with it. As the game went on, you kind of had a feeling that we were going to have to get an ugly one to beat him. We get a bit of a fortunate bounce but it’s a good job by everyone sticking with it.”
The Blue Jackets had a clear early edge to start the game, outshooting the Canes 7-1 a little more than halfway through the first and dominating puck possession in that span.
The Canes settled in as the period went along and got some good looks on a late period power play, but could not finish. The game was a close, tight-checking affair, with not much offense to be found on either side throughout.
“It was pretty even right across the board,” said Canes head coach Bill Peters, who picked up his 100th NHL win as a head coach. “We were 51 percent on draws [faceoffs], hits are 32-32. It was that type of game; it was just tight. I thought both teams played well, and didn’t give up anything for free.”
Skinner took a shot off the foot from forward Derek Ryan on the power play, and hobbled to the locker room in serious pain. The Canes dodged a bullet though, as the forward returned to the game shortly after the start of the second period.
“It hurt a little bit at the start,” Skinner said. “It stung a little bit. I’m kind of happy it wasn’t Faulker’s [defenseman Justin Faulk] slap shot, because then I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now. It stings for a little bit and then you get back out there. I’ve got pads there; they did their job.”
The Blue Jackets broke the scoreless tie with 3:35 to go in the second; defenseman Jack Johnson joined the rush and picked a corner from the right circle to make it 1-0.
The Canes’ torrid stretch has them right in the thick of the Eastern-Conference playoff race. The Canes leapfrogged the New York Islanders, who lost in Philadelphia, and kept pace with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, both of whom won. The Canes sit one point back of the Lightning, who is the first team out of the playoff picture, and four behind the Bruins with a game in hand for the final wild-card spot.
“I just like seeing the growth amongst our team moving forward,” Peters said. “I like the growth individually in players. I like the growth and maturity of our group, and the willingness to do it right. The understanding that sometimes winning hurts. You learn how to win and you learn what it takes to win. That’s what it’s all about this time of year.”
The Canes will wrap up their four-game homestand against the Dallas Stars at PNC on Saturday, looking to run the point streak to 14 games.
