Recap: Canes Complete Regular Season Series Sweep of Penguins

RALEIGH, NC. -The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fourth and final time this regular season on Saturday, rounding out their four-game series with a 2-1 final score.

The Story

Entering the contest without Max Pacioretty due to a lower-body injury suffered Thursday in Columbus, Rod Brind'Amour and staff elected to go with Frederik Andersen in net for a second consecutive game.
48 hours after
playing in and winning his first game in 67 days
, Saturday night looked like more of the same from last season's 35-game winner. Turning away 11 in the first period, Andersen allowed his team to get to the first lead for a league-leading 28th time in 43 games.
After five of the team's six goals in their most recent outing came from the blue line, Brady Skjei continued the trend with a game-opening marker.

Skjei's ninth of the season was the lone goal of the opening frame, one that saw the home team pick up steam as it went along.
In the second Carolina's defense would add to their stat, making it seven of the team's last eight goals coming from their group. Jalen Chatfield placed a wrist shot by Casey DeSmith, giving him his fourth goal in the last 11 games.

After holding Pittsburgh to just four even strength shots during the second period, it looked as if the Canes were yet again comfortably positioned going into the third period.
However, a gaffe by Andersen allowed the Penguins to make it a 2-1 game with just 12:12 remaining in regulation.
The Canes would also offer Pittsburgh two power play opportunities in the third period, but the penalty kill was able to tackle both and lead the team to the final horn.

They Said It

Rod Brind'Amourproviding his assessment of the victory, including the team's resilient third period...
"I thought we played a really good game. For two periods we were really good and then we took some penalties. We lost all momentum there and we were just kind of hanging on, but I loved how we killed the penalties. I thought they did a great job [killing those]. Obviously you don't want to take those, that was tough. But we took them, they were the right calls and when you do that, you have to kill them. And we did."
Brady Skjeion Frederik Andersen's 34/35 performance...
"He looked confident back there. [The goal] was a bad bounce and it went in, but him even trying to make that play shows that he's pretty confident and he feels comfortable. He was great. He kept us in it and played a really solid game."
Jalen Chatfieldafter continuing his scoring tear...
"You take any chance you get to score goals in this league. I've got great players around me making plays to help me do that. I just have a shooting mentality, put the puck on net and good things happen."

Bonus Notes

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What's Next?

The Canes will turn right back around and host the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday at PNC Arena.
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