Gold: Hurricanes Game Day, opening act
Posted October 14, 2021 3:33 p.m. EDT
Updated October 14, 2021 5:17 p.m. EDT
And awaaaaaaaay we go!
The Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Islanders to open the 2021-2022 season tonight at PNC Arena. Tonight matches teams that each failed in derailing the Tampa Bay Lightning en route to their second straight Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes were dumped in the second round in five games while the Islanders took the Bolts to a 7th game before bowing out in the semi finals.
The similarities end there. The Hurricanes have 10 names on their opening night roster that weren’t there a year ago, while the Islanders are essentially the exact same team that fought the Lightning to the end, falling 1-0 in Game 7.
Of the 10 newcomers, six will dress for tonight’s opener. Up front, 2018 3rd overall draft pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi will make his Hurricanes debut. He’ll be joined by veteran center Derek Stepan, one of a bevy of former New York Rangers who will dot the Canes line up.
Half of Carolina’s blue line are brand new to the mix as veteran Ian Cole, a 2-time Stanley Cup winner with the Penguins, will be joined by Ethan Bear and Tony DeAngelo in a reworked defensive corps. DeAngelo is, for lack of a better way of describing him, the replacement for the offense provided by Dougie Hamilton, who left Carolina for the free agent riches offered by the New Jersey Devils.
If DeAngelo provides what he did in his final full season for the Rangers, Carolina’s power play should be fine. Bear also has some offensive upside, though we’re expecting Brett Pesce to run the 2nd power play unit.
In goal, both guys are new to the Hurricanes. Antti Raanta -- also a former Ranger -- has posted excellent numbers in an 8-year career. His only issue has been staying healthy. But, he’s not here to be the work horse. If there is a pure number one goalie that will be former Toronto netminder Frederik Andersen.
Andersen averaged 61 starts per year over his first four years with the Maple Leafs. Last year, there were injury issues that limited him to 24 starts in the 56-game, pandemic season. We’ll see Freddie tonight, but if history tells us anything about the way head coach Rod Brind’Amour will deploy his netminders during the regular season, we should expect more of an even split.
If Andersen starts more than 50 games this year one of two things probably happened. Either Raanta has spent time on the injured list or Andersen is going to receive some Vezina Trophy support, as he did twice while with the Leafs.
The look
Kotkaniemi-Aho-Necas
Svechnikov-Trocheck-Teravainen
Niederreiter-Staal-Fast
Lorentz-Stepan-Martinook
Slavin-Bear
Skjei-Pesce
Cole-DeAngelo
Andersen
The Hurricanes have won two straight and three of their last four (3-0-1) season opening games. Last year, the Canes shut out the Red Wings, 3-0, in Detroit. This is the third time since the 2014-15 season that the Canes have started with the Islanders. In 2018-19, the Isles beat the Hurricanes in overtime. The other meeting to christen a year came four years prior when New York outscored Carolina 5-3.
Odds
Carolina -125, O/U 5 ½.
Storm Watch starring Alec Campbell rolls at 6:30 pm ET on 99.9 the Fan. The play-by play with Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy is set for a 7:14 start at PNC Arena. Make sure to follow the Canes Corner podcast for the Morning After edition following every Hurricanes game. Interviews, recaps and analysis 82 times per year -- plus playoffs.
