Hurricanes 'Get Right' With Timely Win Over Sabres
The Carolina Hurricanes were losers of five of their last six games, had been shut out twice in that span and were struggling to play to their identity.
So what did they do?
They became a totally different team.
No, actually.
It was Whalers Night at Lenovo Center Thursday night, so the team donned the classic green and white jerseys, paying homage to their past as they shelled the Buffalo Sabres in a 5-2 win.
There was a lot of things to like for the Canes in their 60-minute effort.
For one, Jesperi Kotkaniemi set the tone early, dropping the gloves with Dylan Cozens off of the opening faceoff.
Whalers night in Raleigh off to a flyer: Kotkaniemi and Dylan Cozens drop the gloves right off the opening draw #RaiseUp #SabreHood pic.twitter.com/6pIYkJ43FT
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) February 28, 2025
"Just a quick decision, I guess," Kotkaniemi said on his decision to drop the gloves. "I thought we needed a little energy there. I don't know. I rarely start the game so I thought I might do something there. Got a little energy from that, got a good start to the game. Good to get a win again."
"Obviously good job by KK to start the game and bury the guy there," said Mikko Rantanen. "Gave us a lot of energy and the building was rocking after that for a while."
The team got rolling from there, getting back to their hard-working, suffocating identity, the power play converting and it was also a good night for the newest acquisitions too as both Rantanen and Taylor Hall got on the score sheet with goals.
For Hall, it was his first as a Hurricane, as Jack Roslovic served him up a perfect no-look pass.
"He's a creative player and I read it well," Hall said. "I had a feeling he was going to look for that and I think he picked it out of the air with one hand too. He's a nifty player and an easy guy to play with. We've had a few shifts since I've been a Hurricane and it's a lot of fun."
ROSLOVIC NO LOOK PASS TO HALL FOR HIS FIRST AS A HURRICANE/WHALER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FhWT9Vbwmb
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 28, 2025
For Rantanen, it was a two-point night and an actual power play goal that the Canes have been desperately looking for.
"I think after you get one, you get a little confidence, hopefully, and get more chemistry and more confidence," Rantanen said on the power play.
Mikko Rantanen gets his first Whalers goal 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ntNIWRmwTC
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 28, 2025
The team also played a great overall defensive game, holding Buffalo to just 15 shots on goal.
Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin were especially good, with countless pass and shot blocks throughout the night.
"Both him and Jaccob were, I thought, just great tonight," Brind'Amour said. "With their sticks and just breaking up plays. I don't know what the shots ended up, maybe 10, 12, but that's a pretty good number. If you can do that, it says a lot about not just those two, but the D in general, I thought, had a good game."
Beyond them though, the team, as a whole, did a good job playing more direct and connected hockey.
Its the way the Canes will need to play moving forward if they want to be the team they're capable of being.
The Hurricanes will be back in action on Saturday as they host the Edmonton Oilers.
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