San Jose Sharks vs. Carolina Hurricanes Pick & Prediction JANUARY 27th 2023
The Carolina Hurricanes keep plugging along even as their goaltending situation tends to be a moving target.
Now with Frederik Andersen suffering an upper-body injury, another chapter at the goalie position is sure to unfold Friday night when the Hurricanes host the San Jose Sharks in Raleigh, N.C.
Andersen suffered the upper-body injury Wednesday night in Dallas, so Antti Raanta was summoned to finish what became a 3-2 overtime victory. Raanta, Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov have spent time in and out of the lineup with physical issues, keeping the Hurricanes from establishing a regular rotation.
Just last week, with Raanta and Andersen deemed healthy, Kochetkov was sent to the AHL after he had plugged in for Raanta (lower-body injury) for much of December and was named NHL rookie of the month.
"You try to work every day in practice to make sure that whenever your turn is that you're ready to go," said Raanta, who stopped all 15 Stars shots he faced.
Robert Jones
"A few more (games) before the (All-Star) break, so let's start focusing on Friday's game."
The Hurricanes have won three games in a row as they move into a three-game homestand. The Metropolitan Division leaders hold a six-game points streak.
The Sharks continue to sit near the bottom of the Pacific Division, 0-2-1 on a road trip that still has a stop in Pittsburgh on Saturday before they get a nine-day break in the schedule, partially owing to the NHL All-Star Break.
Tuesday night's 3-2 overtime loss at Detroit moved San Jose to 2-5-3 across its past 10 games.
"I thought there was a lot more honesty in our game," Sharks coach David Quinn said. "A lot more pace, a lot more compete in our game. Just disappointed in the ending."
Quinn said he was impressed with goalie James Reimer's outing against the Red Wings. Reimer is a former Carolina netminder.
While the Sharks have come up short across the board, overtime sessions have been a drag on the team as well.
"Anybody we put out there lately, it has been a struggle for us," Quinn said of the overtime periods.
Even at 9-13-3 on the road, the Sharks hold a better road mark than at home (5-12-7).
The Hurricanes, meantime, beat Dallas in overtime for the second time this season, this one on Martin Necas' game-winner.
Carolina center Sebastian Aho scored his 200th career goal Wednesday night, becoming the sixth player in franchise history and the third player from the 2015 NHL Draft to reach the milestone.
It was another sign that Aho is back in a groove after missing time with an injury last month.
"I think he looks like he did before he went out," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "When you're out for a while and not really skating, it takes time to get that back."
Aho's tally was his 16th career short-handed goal, tying the franchise record.
"He's dynamic in open ice and he can really read the play," Brind'Amour said. "He has had a ton of chances short-handed. He's a weapon there."
Aside from goaltending, the Hurricanes have other topics of concern on the defensive side. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin has missed the past two games because of a lower-body injury.
The last time the Hurricanes met the Sharks, back on Oct. 14, Carolina won 2-1 at San Jose with Raanta picking up the victory.
--Field Level Media
San Jose Sharks vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Andrei Svechnikov of the Carolina Hurricanes was the only player to convert in the shootout in a 3-2 victory against the visiting San Jose Sharks in a game that came full circle for the second-year forward Thursday night.
Svechnikov, who was Carolina's third shooter in the shootout, began the game's scoring in the opening minute and then came through to help close out the victory.
Carolina's other goal came from Jake Gardiner. Warren Foegele assisted on two goals, while Svechnikov also picked up an assist.
Marcus Sorensen and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks in regulation.
The second period included San Jose's Joe Thornton punching Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek in the mask, and from there the tensions rose considerably.
Still, the third period resulted in few scoring chances as that part of the game seemed to turn much tamer. Carolina managed only five shots on goal compared to 10 for the Sharks.
Then in the five-minute overtime, the Hurricanes held a 6-2 advantage in shots.
San Jose goalie Aaron Dell stopped 27 shots.
Mrazek made 28 saves.
Svechnikov scored 50 seconds into the game as the recipient of Foegele's solid work to set up the goal. It was Svechnikov's 12th goal of the season.
Less than six minutes later, Sorensen tied the game, taking a pass from Thornton.
Gardiner put Carolina back on top near the midway mark of the second period. It was his first goal since the second game of the season.
Couture's tying goal came with 18 seconds remaining in the second period. It was his fourth goal across the past four games.
Both teams failed to convert on a third-period power play. They finished a combined 0-for-5 on power plays.
Carolina had lost three of its previous four games.
The Sharks have lost back-to-back games for the first time since the first two days of November, though this time they picked up one team point in the process.
--Field Level Media
- NHL
