Carolina Hurricanes (25-8-2) handed the Vancouver Canucks (16-18-3) their third loss in their last four games; third consecutive loss on their 5-game road trip, by a 4-1 score.
The Carolina Hurricanes lived up to their hype on Saturday, taking the game early to the Vancouver Canucks, opening the game scoring with Vancouver shorthanded. Vancouver eventually rebounded to finish the period even with their hosts at 1-1, outshot 12-7. Bo Horvat with the Canucks lone goal in the initial period, assisted by Luke Schenn.
The second period saw the Hurricanes strike for two goals in the first five minutes of play, and withstand efforts by Vancouver to launch a comeback attempt, keeping them off the scoresheet, taking a 3-1 lead after the middle frame, outshooting their visitors 10-8.
After two periods, Canucks were 60.9 percent in faceoffs; 0 for 4 on the power play and being outshot 22-15; three of the shots on four power plays. Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat, and Conor Garland led Vancouver in shots with 3 each. Six different Canucks had a single shot each. Without a shot after two periods included Pettersson, Hughes, Podkolzin, Miller, Motte, Highmore, and Ekman-Larsson.
In the final period Vancouver fell behind early by three at 4-1, the Hurricanes dominating the Canucks with chances, keeping NHL All-Star goalie Thatcher Demko busy.
Vancouver had one power play to try to get within two goals halfway through the third, getting three unsuccessful shots on Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen, including one good shot from Elias Pettersson. Canucks outshot Carolina 16-11 in the final frame, outshot in the game 33-31.
More Stanley Cup contenders are being visited, with Washington Capitals tomorrow @ 11 am PST and Nashville Predators @ 4 pm PST on Tuesday.
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