Recap: Penguins 2, Hurricanes 1

Once again, the Carolina Hurricanes found themselves at the wrong side of a one-goal game as they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night, 2-1 at the Consol Energy Arena.

The Canes have scored just 19 goals in their 14 games played in December while compiling a 3-10-1 record.  Their overall record is now 10-23-4 and their 24 point total is just one point ahead of last place Edmonton.  They will start the new year 19 points out of a playoff spot.

Former players continue to haunt the team.  Last season, Jussi Jokinen lit them up, in this game Brandon Sutter scored the game-winner.

Eric Staal put his team up 1-0 midway through the first period with the help of a nice pass by Elias Lindholm.  The captain was playing this game at center because his brother Jordan had to sit out with a lower body injury suffered against the Habs.  Jordan is listed as day-to-day.

The first period was pretty evenly played and would end up tied at 1-1 after Chris Kunitz beat Cam Ward with just 21 seconds left.

Ward had some outstanding saves in the game and ended with 37 on 39 shots overall.

After a scoreless second period the Penguins started to take over the game in the third and held the puck in the Carolina zone for long stretches.   Before the eventual game-winner, Ward made save after save.

Sutter managed to find an opening and finally beat the Carolina goalie with a high shot blocker side with just 1:42 left in the game.

Carolina pulled Ward out of the game for an extra attacker but came up short as they have done so many times this season. Next up will be the Flyers on Friday night at home.

Game Notes:

• The Canes were outshot 39-25.  Lindholm had a team high five.
• The team was credited with 28 hits led by Brett Bellemore and Brad Malone with six each.
• Justin Faulk and Andrej Sekera had four blocked shots each to lead the team.  The Canes had 22.
• Faulk played 28:34 as Michal Jordan had to leave the game for a bit because of a cut.
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