Carolina Hurricanes can’t find their offense again, fall to Dallas Stars at PNC Arena

Raleigh

The Carolina Hurricanes’ past two games, against the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars, had one thing in common: Sebastian Aho had the only Canes goal.

One was enough against the Panthers, but not the Stars.

Dallas finished off a season sweep of the Hurricanes on Saturday, taking a 2-1 victory at PNC Arena to end a four-game winless streak that had tested the patience of Stars coach Peter DeBoer.

Goalie Jake Oettinger had 21 saves in earning his 21st win of the season, allowing only the Aho goal in the second period. The goals came from Jason Robertson in the first and Wyatt Johnston in the second as the Stars managed just 16 shots against the Canes and goalie Pyotr Kochetkov.

“We didn’t get any bounces and they made two real nice plays on the goals,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We had a few chances but it wasn’t a ton, that’s for sure.”

DeBoer questioned his team’s compete level during the four-game stumble. He didn’t have to Saturday as the Stars won enough board fights and neutral-zone battles, and blocked 25 shots.

“They did a real nice job and I thought we did, too,” Brind’Amour said. “We played a great game. To hold a team like that to 16 shots is pretty good. But they’re a good team and they blocked 20-plus shots tonight. It was a hard-fought game and there wasn’t a lot of room and we didn’t find it.”

The Canes (34-18-5) were not as sharp and not nearly as emotionally invested as they were against the Panthers.

There’s bad blood between the Canes and Panthers after last year’s playoff series and it showed Thursday as Carolina won 1-0 on Aho’s late goal.

Several players went at it when the game ended. One of the Canes players was Kochetkov, who moments after his 44-save shutout jumped into the skirmish along the boards, later saying: “These guys no touch my guys.”

As exciting and intense as Thursday’s game was, Saturday’s was more of a grind.

“It looked like we were a little lethargic at times,” Canes captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously it wasn’t the same jump. But it’s the NHL. We had a sold-out crowd looking for a big game and we disappointed a little bit.”

Robertson scored in the first period just after the Canes’ Brent Burns blistered a shot that hit the crossbar.

“That’s the game, inches one way or the other,” Brind’Amour said. “It certainly was not in our favor tonight.”

Johnston’s goal, which was the winner, came off the rush in the second for a 2-1 lead. His shot went through the legs of Canes defenseman Jaccob Slavin and was on Kochetkov quickly at 8:15 of the period.

Aho’s 22nd of the season tied the score 1-1 early in the second. Taking a pass from Jesper Fast out of the neutral zone, he skated through two Stars players down the slot and beat Oettinger high to the glove.

The Stars (35-16-8) began the third on a power play after Canes defenseman Dmitry Orlov was called for an interference penalty with a half-second left in the second. The Canes killed it off, but Orlov then had another penalty for tripping in the third that put the penalty killers back to work.

“The PK pulled through for us again,” Staal said,

The Canes had a power play eight minutes into the third, with a chance to tie it, but did little with it. They pulled Kochetkov for an extra attacker in the final minutes but Oettinger made a scrambling save on a Martin Necas shot with 19 seconds remaining.

Dallas, which beat the Canes 4-2 at home Feb. 13, did it again 11 days later. A common thread: Robertson, always the sniper, scored in both games.

The Hurricanes finish off a back-to-back set with a game Sunday at Buffalo. Goalie Spencer Martin is expected to be the starter for the Canes, who then have road games at Minnesota and Columbus.

This story was originally published February 24, 2024, 10:40 PM.