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Hurricanes' offense flounders: Linus Ullmark, Senators shut down Carolina

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer on

Published in Hockey

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sometimes, it’s a game of patience.

Not every hockey game involves dazzling rushes down the ice and beautiful goals mixed in with spectacular saves by the goalies that leave the crowd rowdy and roaring.

Sometimes, it’s just shift-by-shift grind, staying focused, waiting for your chance, waiting for the other team to blink and make a mistake. Sometimes, a goalie decides the game.

That’s the way the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators played it Friday the Lenovo Center, the Senators taking a 3-0 victory as goalie Linus Ullmark, turned back 32 shots.

Senators forward Shane Pinto scored twice — in the second period and then a late empty-netter — and defenseman Nick Jensen had a third-period goal for Ottawa (14-13-2).

Ullmark made it stand up with his second shutout of the season and the 10th of a career highlighted by his Vezina Trophy in 2023 with the Boston Bruins.

The Canes (18-10-1) could not find a way to get the puck past Ullmark, pinging the goalie in the helmet a few times and knocking the stick out of his hands, but not finding the net. Ullmark was clearly on his game, anticipating quickly, refusing to bend.

Ullmark, the winner Wednesday as the Sens beat Anaheim, 5-1, has found a groove and now is 5-0-1 in his past six games. The Sens have won four of their last five.

After a scoreless first period — the Canes going 0 for 2 on the power play, with two shots — the Sens got the game’s first goal early in the second. After the Canes failed two or three times to clear the puck from their zone, Pinto beat Pyotr Kochetkov on a shot from the slot for his second goal of the season.

The Canes made a push and quickly had chances to tie, but a Brent Burns shot glanced off winger Jordan Martinook, off Ullmark’s mask and off the crossbar. Moments later, Ullmark warded off a sharp shot by winger William Carrier.

Burns later rippped another sharp-angle shot off Ullmark’s mask as the Canes tried to get one past the goalie. Then, Canes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere picked off a pass and knocked Ullmark’s stick out of his hands with a shot.

 

The Hurricanes’ D-men have been active of late, looking to provide some offense and scoring all three goals in the 3-2 home-ice win this week over the San Jose Sharks — Jalen Chatfield with the winning score.

But Ullmark, moving sharply, found a way to stop shot after shot, whether those that threatened to tear up his mask or the deflections and tips that the Canes produced.

Ullmark faced 10 shots in the first period and 18 through two periods, helped as the Senators blocked 10 shots in the first 40 minutes and were physical in their defensive zone.

Kochetkov, making a fifth straight start, had his share of quality stops and got an assist in the third period from defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who went sprawling in front of the crease to keep the puck out and the score 1-0.

Not for long. After the Canes killed off a penalty, Jensen beat Kochetkov low.

Ottawa made the Canes work in the Carolina zone, cycling the puck on the forecheck and controlling the walls, and stopping attempted clears.

The Canes shut out the Senators on Nov. 16, goalie Spencer Martin getting the win in a 4-0 victory.

Drury surgery

The Canes announced that center Jack Drury underwent hand surgery Thursday and will be sidelined for “at least a few weeks.”

Drury was injured Tuesday in the game against the Sharks.


©2024 The News & Observer. Visit at newsobserver.com. Distributed at Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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