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Hurricanes fend off Pens 2-1 behind Frederik Andersen

Jan 14, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ty Smith (24) battle over the puck during the first period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Frederik Andersen made 34 saves and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on Saturday.

Brady Skjei and Jalen Chatfield scored for Carolina, which won its second straight game.

Rickard Rakell scored for Pittsburgh and Casy DeSmith made 34 saves in the loss. The Penguins have lost back-to-back contests.

Andersen was making his second straight start after missing more than two months with a lower-body injury.

Andersen made 21 saves in a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday and was nearly perfect against Pittsburgh. In fact, the only shot to beat Andersen came on a self-inflicted wound by the goalie himself.

Skjei gave Carolina a 1-0 lead at 17:02 of the first period when he showed patience and fired a wrist shot through traffic for his ninth goal of the season. Brett Pesce and Jordan Martinook had assists on the goal.

Chatfield doubled Carolina’s advantage at 9:14 of the second period, one-timing a loose puck in the slot through traffic and past DeSmith for his fourth goal of the season. Sebastian Aho had his 23rd assist of the season on Chatfield’s blast.

Andersen would have pitched a shutout, but in the third period on a harmless puck bouncing toward the net, he attempted to clear it baseball style, but put the puck caromed off Rakell and into his own net.

It counted as a power play goal for Pittsburgh, which overall went 1-for-6 with the man advantage. Carolina went 0-for-2 on the power play.

Andersen made some amends with about a minute remaining, making a pair of difficult saves while scrambling when the Penguins were pushing for the tying goal.

Andersen improved to 7-3-0 in 10 starts.

Carolina completes the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks. The Penguins host the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.

–Field Level Media

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