The Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers kicked off the month of March with a can-not-miss showdown between the best offensive player in the world, Connor McDavid, against the best defensive defenseman in Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes looked to build upon the momentum from their 5-2 win on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres. However, the Oilers were looking to snap a five-game losing streak. Both teams were looking to start the second-to-last month of the regular season on a high note. As the final horn sounded, the Oilers snapped their five-game skid with a 3-1 win over the Hurricanes.
Game Recap
The first period saw the Hurricanes start slow by only having one shot on goal in the first 10 minutes, despite having a power play in that time frame. However, they did kill off an early penalty 22 seconds into the game. As the period drew on, the home side was able to have two more power plays, but only managed two shots in the three man advantages. What made it worse for one of the most struggling power play units since December was that Adam Henrique scored a shorthanded goal on the Hurricanes’ second power play. That was the lone goal of the period, but it’s a backbreaker when you have three power-play chances in the first 20 minutes but are down 1-0 due to a shorthanded marker. The Hurricanes led the period in shots 8-7 but were down 1-0 after the first 20 minutes.
Related: Hurricanes Defeat Sabres 5-2 on Whalers Night
The second period saw the Oilers get a second goal as Corey Perry on the backdoor tapped it in past Frederik Andersen. It was Perry’s 13th of the season. At least for the Hurricanes, they had some chances of their own. Jordan Martinook almost tied the game at 1-1 but the post had other ideas as the puck luck was not there. Shots in the second period were 14 for the Oilers compared to the Hurricanes’ 12. After two periods, the visitors led in shots 21-20 and up 2-0 over the home team.
The third period saw a goal from both sides as the Hurricanes cut the Oilers’ lead in half. Mikko Rantanen found Sebastian Aho with a tip-in goal at the 4:26 mark of the period. It was the first time Rantanen has had a point in back-to-back games since joining the Hurricanes. Aho’s power-play goal was his 22nd of the season, and it became a 2-1 game. As the period went on, the Hurricanes threw chance after chance on Calvin Pickard and the Oilers. They outshot the visitors 16-10 in the final 20 minutes of the game.
Related: Hurricanes Are Still a Quality Playoff Team Despite Rough February
However, Evan Bouchard iced the game with under a second left in the game on a 3-1 empty net power-play goal for the Oilers. The horn sounded, and the Oilers snapped their losing streak and gave the Hurricanes their seventh loss at home of the season. The Hurricanes almost came back but fell just short.
March Is Underway
The Hurricanes (34-22-4) are back at it on Sunday, March 2 as they finish their weekend back-to-back against the visiting Calgary Flames (28-23-8). The game is set for a 5 p.m. Eastern puck drop between the two sides for the last time before the playoffs. Regarding the Oilers (35-21-4) they play again on Tuesday, March 4 against the Anaheim Ducks (26-25-7) with a 9 p.m. Eastern start time.
