After an absence of more than four months because of blood-clot issues, Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen made 24 saves in the Hurricanes’ 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Brady Skjei scored two goals and Stefan Noesen and Andrei Svechnikov had the other Carolina goals as the Hurricanes have points in 10 of their last 13 games.
Andersen, who improved his record to 5-1 this season, was greeted by chants of “Fred-die, Fred-die” as he entered the ice and during pregame introductions. Andersen hadn’t played since Nov. 2, sitting out a span of 50 games.
Joshua Roy scored for the Canadiens, who had a four-game points streak snapped. Sam Montembeault made 35 saves.
Noesen’s 14th goal of the season came with 25 seconds remaining in the second period, breaking a 1-1 tie.
With the teams skating 4-on-4 late in the game, Skjei charged in alone on Montembeault to convert for the second time in the game with 4:29 remaining for his 10th goal of the season. It’s Skjei’s first two-goal game of the season and the third of his career.
Svechnikov had an empty-net goal for his 14th tally of the season.
Montreal’s second shot on goal got past Andersen for Roy’s third goal of the season and his second in as many games.
Carolina forward Brendan Lemieux went on waivers earlier in the day, but he was in the game lineup anyway. The Hurricanes also placed goalie Antti Raanta and defenseman Tony DeAngelo on waivers in an effort to clear salary cap space for potential moves.
The Hurricanes hadn’t played since blowing Saturday’s three-goal lead in the third period of a loss to visiting Winnipeg.
Carolina forward Michael Bunting was scratched because of what the team announced as “trade-related reasons” with the Hurricanes expected to make a major move in advance of Friday’s trade deadline. Speculation has centered on a deal involving Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel.
–Field Level Media