Rachel Barkley
The Carolina Hurricanes chased the game dang-near all night long as the Philadelphia Flyers took a quick leap ahead early in the night – but once the dust had settled, the skates halted, and K’Andre Miller’s sticks were no longer shattering just by looking at them, it was the Hurricanes who had taken the 2-0 series lead of Round Two.
Taylor Hall, who scored the game-winning goal, had been analytically critical of the Hurricanes’ play when interviewed in the first period, tipping his cap to the Flyers in the process.
“They’re quicker on pucks, they’re quicker on battles, and they’ve made some nice plays…not a great start for us.”
After the night’s events, Hall referenced at the podium that he didn’t have his A-game, but mentioned that his time in the league had taught him how to dig in and find a good ‘B-minus game’, as he put it.
Perhaps a B-minus, but it earned Hall top marks with the first postseason overtime game-winner of his NHL career.
It was a tough road for the Hurricanes to reach that conclusion, though…
The First Period Started Far Differently Than the Previous Ones
Under five minutes into the game, Jamie Drysdale found the back of the net on the power play to put the Flyers ahead and force the Hurricanes to trail for the first time this postseason. Pouring salt into the open wound was the Flyers captain, Sean Couturier, who squeaked the puck through the five-hole just 39 seconds later.
Just over the halfway mark of the first period, Nikolaj Ehlers launched one heck of a one-timer from the right face-off circle on the power play – served up by Jackson Blake with some help from Miller to halve the Flyers’ lead.
It was Ehlers’ first postseason goal with the Hurricanes.
Rod Brind’Amour Plugged in the Blender and Threw in a Pair of Forward Lines
Neither team could make anything else happen for the rest of the first period…and the entirety of the second.
As such, head coach Rod Brind’Amour did as he does to try and spark something for his team and switched some players around, sending Jordan Martinook to play on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov while dropping Seth Jarvis to play on the third line with Jordan Staal and Nikolaj Ehlers.
Lo and behold, that small spark lit things up for Jarvis, who went on to tie the game midway through the third period, assisted by both of his new linemates. It was the first goal he’s managed this postseason.
Bonus Hockey, Baby
Chances continued to be exchanged, but ultimately, things went into overtime – and it was a brutal extra frame for Frederik Andersen. Lasting 18:54, he faced the most shots he had in a single frame as the Hurricanes were outshot 15-8. Through defensive breakdowns, breakaways, and at least three broken sticks for Miller, the Danish netminder turned away everything.
Then came the final goal – one which Hall referred to as ‘gritty’, falling to his knees as the puck bounced around, kept alive by Blake before it was pushed in by the blade of Hall’s stick.
“Oh, it took a lot,” Hall said on the bench regarding what it took to win the game. “You know, probably not our strongest effort. Freddie was unreal in overtime – but that’s hockey. They’re a good team, and they’re gonna battle ‘til the end.”
As for Ehlers, he was frank at the podium when discussing their come-from-behind victory, giving a solid analysis.
“You want adversity,” he told the media. “We had that in the Ottawa series, as well. Because it’s going to happen again. And now, we know what we need to do for the next time it happens.”
Hurricanes Game Notes
Drysdale’s game-opening goal marked the end of the Hurricanes’ insane 618:51 streak of not having trailed in a game.
Logan Stankoven’s five-game postseason goal streak officially came to an end as he did not make his way onto the scoresheet.
Between the Hurricanes (6) and Flyers (7), there were 13 total power plays. It was the most the two have had apiece in a single game this postseason.
Round Two between the Hurricanes and Flyers will continue Thursday at 8:00 PM EDT, allowing an extra day between the games for travel. Additionally, it will be the only game of the day.
