Hurricanes-Ducks: Carolina Wins Again...Looking For Another Stanley Cup?

The Carolina Hurricanes (7 pts, 3-1-1) might be looking for another Stanley Cup this year. Or at least it looked that way in their strong 3-1 win over the struggling Anaheim Ducks (2 pts, 1-5-0).

In the second game of the Canes' six-game road trip, Carolina jumped out in front of Anaheim early in the first period. It was the first time this year that the Hurricanes had scored first. The goal came with 14:00 left in the first period, and was Ryan Bayda's second goal in two games, assisted by the one and only Eric Staal.

Almost immediately after, the Hurricanes got a chance to take a two-goal lead on three consecutive power plays with 12:57, 9:12, and 7:58 remaining in the period. These penalties put Carolina on the power play for six-of-eight minutes in the middle of the first period. But unfortunately for Carolina, they couldn't convert this extra power-play time into a second goal.

The Ducks, who haven't been playing very well this year, tied the game with less than six minutes remaining in the second period, with a goal by Francois Beauchemin, who was assisted by Travis Moen and Samuel Pahlsson.

But just four and a half minutes later (with 1:12 remaining in the period), Carolina's captain Rod Brind'Amour gave the Hurricanes the lead once again, on what turned out to be the game-winning goal. Brind'Amour's goal was assisted by Niclas Wallin and Ray Whitney.

Early in the third, the Ducks had back-to-back power play chances, including 23 seconds of a two-man advantage. This was due to a tripping penalty on Joni Pitkanen just over a minute into the final period and a slashing call to Staal at 2:51. Unfortunately for Anaheim fans, the Ducks failed to score on either of these goals.

Anaheim also got another chance to tie the score at two goals apiece on a hooking penalty called against Sergei Samsonov, which set the Ducks up with the man advantage with just over four minutes left in the game.

Carolina's third and final goal was scored by Eric Staal (unassisted) with just 38 seconds remaining on an empty-netter.

Anaheim—who was just coming off their first win of the year, a 4-0 rout of the San Jose Sharks on Friday—outshot Carolina 33-24 for the game and 22-10 after the first period. It was the strong play of young goalie Michael Leighton (32 saves on 33 shots in the game, 62 saves on 66 shots on the year)—who won his first game 4-3 over Tampa Bay earlier this year—that gave the Hurricanes the win.

The Hurricanes, who were coming off a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings last Friday night, will head to Pittsburgh on Thursday. They are now tied for the division lead with the Washington Capitals (7 pts, also 3-1-1). They also have a two-point lead on the Atlanta Thrashers (5 pts, 2-2-1), a three-point lead on the Florida Panthers (4 pts, 2-2-0), and a four-point lead on the Tampa Bay Lightning (3 pts, 0-2-3).

The Hurricanes have beaten the Panthers (6-4) and Lightning (4-3 in OT) so far this year.

The Hurricanes are currently tied for sixth in the conference with the Capitals and Penguins, whom they'll play in Pittsburgh next Thursday. League-wise, the 'Canes are tied for 11th with the Capitals, Penguins, and Red Wings, whom they lost to 3-1 last Monday night in the RBC Center.

Thank you for reading this article. All comments and poll votes will be greatly appreciated!