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Ducks 4, Hurricanes 1

Noah Hanifin scores career first in losing effort

Noah Hanifin celebrates after scoring his first NHL career goal
Noah Hanifin celebrates after scoring his first NHL career goal
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Hurricanes were looking to make hay during this recent homestand but instead continue to rack up losses.  They lost another game on Monday night, this time to the Anaheim Ducks, 4-1 in front of 9,305 at the PNC Arena.

Eddie Lack was the starting goaltender for the Canes but he did not have any better luck than Cam Ward has had of late as he allowed three goals on 19 shots for the home team.

After a slow first period in which the Ducks took a 1-0 lead on just five shots, (the home team had just four shots on goal), the Canes tied it up in the second when Noah Hanifin scored his first career NHL goal.

But the Ducks would score later in the period and then again in the third to put the game away.  Ryan Getzlaf scored his first goal of the season on an empty-netter near the end on an unselfish play by Ryan Kesler.

In all, the Canes out-shot their opponents again, this time 25-20, but it did not matter.  Bill Peter's team allows fewer shots per game than any other team in the league but they cannot translate this stat to wins.

The highlight of the evening was Hanifin's goal, who became the youngest defenseman in Carolina history to score an NHL goal.

Game Notes:

  • Bill Peters seems to be running out of answers in the post game pressers.  For some reason, he switched up the Staal brothers, playing Eric at center and Jordan at wing.  When asked about it after the game, he did not give a reason for the change.
  • Anton Khudobin played a solid game for the Ducks, stopping 24 shots on 25 attempts, but he did not have to stand on his head to do so.
  • Jeff Skinner and Justin Faulk each led the team with four shots. 
  • Ron Hainsey had a team high five blocked shots but got faked out badly when Sami Vatanen scored the game-winning goal for Anaheim.
  • The team was out-hit 34-14.