Gold: Preseason musings from the 5th floor
Posted September 28, 2021 10:53 p.m. EDT
Updated September 28, 2021 11:09 p.m. EDT
The Carolina Hurricanes opened up the 4-game preseason schedule with a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night at PNC Arena. Using only a smattering of NHL regulars, the Hurricanes scored a pair of 1st period power play goals en route to the win with new faces dotting the score sheet.
Three of the most-discussed newcomers were among the bright spots as Jesperi Kotkaniemi registered a goal and an assist in his first game in a Hurricanes sweater. He took a feed from Vincent Trocheck from behind the goal and potted a power play goal 9:07 into the first period. Then picked up the secondary assist on Teuvo Teravainen’s extra attacker marker with just under three minutes left in the frame.
On that play, it was defenseman Tony DeAngelo who swiftly moved the puck from the point to Teravainen at the right face off dot as Turbo snapped it past Maxime Legace for a 2-0 lead.
Freddie Andersen made 35 saves for the Hurricanes in net, none bigger than when he stopped Tampa’s Simon Ryfors early in the 1st period on Tampa’s first power play.
Someone remarked to me on Twitter how Andersen appeared to be slow when compared to the goalies Carolina has had in the past, namely Petr Mrazek. Well, that’s by design.
Andersen, in his 9th year and on his 3rd team, doesn’t stray all that much from his net. Certainly not like Mrazek or Alex Nedeljkovic. The beauty in Andersen’s game, other than 6’4”, 235 lbs, is in his economy of movement. And, he was excellent tonight.
The scorers…
Kotkaniemi and Teravainen each had a goal and an assist. Rookie center Jack Drury had a goal. DeAngelo, Trocheck, Stefan Noesen and Jamison Rees all had assists on the night.
Three stars...
The line of Jack Drury, Jamison Rees and Stefan Noesen. They combined on the goal -- and play -- of the night for the Hurricanes. After a turnover near center ice, Rees skated the puck into the offensive zone with speed, pulled up and waited for Drury and Noesen to flash down the middle. With Noesen driving the middle lane, Drury was wide open on the back door and Rees fired a pass right on Jack’s tape for a 3-0 lead.
After the game there were questions about Drury and/or Rees making the team. In all honesty, the likelihood of that is slim, but both players play an NHL game, albeit different styles. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if that trio stood out for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League with all just a phone call away from Raleigh.
The first period of Vinny and the Fins. Teuvo Teravainen hates training camp. He doesn’t much care for practice either. But, put 60 minutes on the clock in 20-minute increments and Turbo is all charged up. Well, as much as he’s going to be charged up. That line created several scoring chances at 5-on-5 in the first period. And, it was basically that line plus Noesen and Tony DeAngelo that comprised the top power play unit. One that proved to be the greatest in preseason hockey history.
Only criticism is that this line seemed satisfied that their work was done after 20 minutes -- which, for the record, I completely understand. See below for an explanation.
As an aside, I thought DeAngelo was pretty good tonight in the defensive zone. He’s not going to make people think he’s the next Jaccob Slavin, but he made some good plays on the puck, played the body well in transition and didn’t get out of position to the point where someone had to cover for him.
Then, when the opportunities were there, he showed how skilled he was as an offensive player. He is a very good skater and was able to create room and passing lanes at the point. His pass to Teravainen for the 2nd power play goal was a simple one, but it was right in the wheelhouse and Turbo wasted no time in making it 2-0.
No one got hurt...
Do I have to go any further? Derek Stepan did come up with some sort of a charlie horse or something thanks to an open ice collision, but he didn’t miss a shift and he played an effective game throughout.
Here’s a stat…
Carolina won 48 face offs in 67 tries tonight. That’s a success rate of 72%. Now, Tampa hardly brought anything that represented an NHL line up, but neither did the Canes, really. Trocheck went 13-5, Stepan 12-6 and Drury 10-5 on the dot for the night.
See you Friday for Carolina’s second preseason grudge match with the Bolts in Tampa.
