Recap: Jets deal Hurricanes first regulation loss

In what was a scoreless game through two periods, the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets provided proof that low-scoring doesn’t mean low-action as the Jets defeated the Hurricanes 3-1 on Sunday night, ending Carolina’s four-game winning streak and dealing the Canes their first regulation loss of the season. Both goalies, Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit (making his first start of the season) played spectacularly in stopping 65 of the 68 shots taken in the game. In the end, the difference was Bryan Little’s wrister with just over two minutes remaining in regulation.

Coming off of a hard fought overtime win in St. Paul last night, the Hurricanes came out of the gates strong in the first period as they controlled play for much of the opening stanza outshooting the Jets 18-6. Nonetheless, Brossoit turned away a couple of solid chances from Martin Necas and a shorthanded breakaway from Sebastian Aho, blanking the Canes on the scoreboard through one period.

As the Jets came out flying in the first few minutes of the second period, Mrazek proved he too was up to the task with a trio of big stops including thwarting a two on none breakaway. (Mrabbery? A Mracle? Mrastounding? Take your pick.) The Jets would continue to test Mrazek with consistent pressure, peppering him with 13 shots in the period. Meanwhile, Brossoit continued his tremendous play throughout the second period. Despite numerous chances on both sides, the game remained scoreless through the middle stanza.

Just minutes into the third period, Warren Foegele sprung Jordan Staal on right wing for a chance that he rang solidly off the left post. Shortly after, Staal was called for holding the stick, which resulted in a power play goal from Patrik Laine at 4:14 of the third period.

But as they have seemed to do at will in the early part of this season, the Canes responded with the equalizer at 7:53 of the third period as Aho fed Dougie Hamilton out front, and his shot off the post was guided home by the opportunistic Micheal Ferland to knot the score at 1-1.

From there, this tense battle resulted in scoring chances on both sides, but Mrazek and Brossoit remained up to the challenge until Bryan Little snapped one past Mrazek with just over two minutes remaining. At that point, the Canes attempted to go three-for-three in empty net situations on the young season, but it was not to be this time as Kyle Connor cashed in on the empty net as the final horn sounded to put the finishing touch on the 3-1 Jets victory.

The Hurricanes will now continue their road trip as they do the typical...uh...(checks notes) Winnipeg to Tampa Bay trip to take on the Lightning on Tuesday night.