While the ending of games tends to be what’s evaluated most heavily by observers, the Carolina Hurricanes are searching for ways to produce better beginnings.
The suddenly inconsistent Hurricanes host the Calgary Flames on Sunday at Raleigh, N.C.
“We always seem to (start slow),” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
Both teams played Saturday. Carolina lost 3-1 to the Edmonton Oilers, while the Flames dropped a 3-0 decision earlier in the day at the Florida Panthers.
The Hurricanes found themselves in another early hole.
“A lot of our games lately have been slow starts,” Carolina captain Eric Staal said. “I’d love to see that desperation right off the bat. It’s tough to come back in this league and I did like our desperation at the end, but it’s got to be the whole game. It’s got to be better all the way through.”
Those rough first periods have contributed to the Hurricanes’ slide that includes losses in six of their past eight games.
“You’d like us starting better, especially with how we’ve been playing lately,” Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho said. “Guys are working hard and we always get to our game, but we’ve got to bring it from the first shift.”
The Flames have troubles as well, absorbing 3-0 shutouts in their past two games.
“I just felt like we were a slow team,” Calgary coach Ryan Huska said.
Calgary has gone more than 124 minutes without scoring since Jonathan Huberdeau recorded his 22nd goal of the season Tuesday night in a 3-1 win at Washington.
“We expect more of ourselves,” Flames forward Mikael Backlund said. “I know we have a lot more in us.”
The Flames have lost five of their past seven games (2-4-1). Of their past 11 defeats, they’ve scored more than two goals in a game only once.
“It’s not a great position to be in,” Backlund said of scoring woes. “The only way we get out of it is play the way we can.”
Calgary is 1-2-0 so far on a six-game road trip.
The Hurricanes were 1-for-4 on power plays against Edmonton. Plus, they allowed the Oilers to score a short-handed goal. It was the third short-handed goal surrendered by Carolina this season.
“Three power plays and if you’re not scoring, you’re not scoring, but giving up one too, that hurts,” Aho said.
Yet there was a bright spot on special teams for the Hurricanes. They’ve scored power-play goals in back-to-back games for the first time since late December.
Aho has seven points (five goals, two assists) in the past seven games. He has a team-high 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists).
Saturday’s loss for Carolina marked just its second home setback in regulation since Jan. 4. Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere of the Hurricanes registered his 400th career assist.
The Hurricanes are expected to go back to Pyotr Kochetkov in goal per their normal rotation.
The Hurricanes defeated the Flames 4-2 in Calgary when the teams met in late October. The game-winning goal in that game was credited to Martin Necas, who since has been traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
–Field Level Media
