Recap: Canes Come Back to Beat Stars in Shootout

For the second time in as many nights, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Dallas Stars, this time by a 4-3 score in the shootout.
Nino Niederreiter tied the game at three with 2:35 left in regulation, and Vincent Trocheck netted the deciding goal in the shootout to deliver the Canes their fourth straight victory.
"I thought our team battled really hard tonight," Jordan Staal said. "We had some big moments from key guys and found a way to grind one out."

HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY | STATISTICS

The Difference

Coming into a three-game homestand against the two 2020 Stanley Cup finalists, the Canes were down a handful of NHL regulars and had only skated as a team twice following a weeklong layoff. But despite being depleted, despite losing more players to injury, despite having a few questionable calls go against them and despite from having to work from behind on Sunday, the Canes found a way to grind out six of a possible six points in the homestand to improve to 5-1-0 on the season.
The difference? The team and its next-man-up philosophy that's allowed the Canes to thrive even when, on paper, the odds might suggest otherwise.
"We're very happy, not content, but very happy with the way we're playing. It's our identity we've wanted to build here for the last few years, and it shows. We didn't change our game with the guys out or in," Staal said. "The boys, all throughout the lineup, did a great job of playing our game, being relentless, being hard on pucks and just finding ways to win games."

Key Moments

Niederreiter Ties It Late
For the first time in two weeks, the Canes found themselves trailing a game. With time winding down in regulation, Brett Pesce walked with the puck in his own zone and fired a cross-ice pass up to Niederreiter. The Canes' forward accepted the pass in stride and let go of a blistering slap shot labeled for the top corner to tie the game at three and force extra hockey.

"I knew I didn't have a lot of speed going, so I knew I had to take that shot and risk it going far side high," Niederreiter said. "I'm glad it went in."
Shootout Prowess
James Reimer stopped two of the three shots he faced in the shootout, including the final bid from Jamie Benn, while the Canes got goals from Dougie Hamilton and Trocheck. Hamilton opened the scoring in the shootout when he got Anton Khudobin moving and slid a shot five-hole. In the third and deciding round, Trocheck skated in wide before snapping a shot that beat Khudobin to his glove side.

Plus/Minus

Plus: Special Teams
The Canes continue to excel on special teams. The power play notched another goal for the fifth time in six games, and the penalty kill was an unblemished 5-for-5 and chipped in a shorthanded tally, as well.
Staal opened the scoring just 1:58 into the game. While the Canes snapped the puck around the perimeter, Staal posted his big frame in front of the net and got a piece of Hamilton's bomb from the point for the power-play tally.

Late in the second period, Brock McGinn put the Canes back on top, 2-1, with the team's first shorthanded goal of the season. Brady Skjei poked the puck off Jamie Benn's stick at the blue line, and then Staal lifted the stick of John Klingberg to gain possession in the neutral zone. Staal dropped the puck off to McGinn, who let go of a clapper that slid through Khudobin's five hole.

In overtime, the Canes dispatched a 4-on-3 man disadvantage to cap off a brilliant night of special teams play.
"Special teams are so important because it's so hard to score 5-on-5. Everybody is dialed in on how to defend. It's why I get so worked up on penalties that are iffy because it's a game-changer," head coach Rod Brind'Amour smiled. "The whole kill in general has been great."
Minus: Bad Hits and Injuries
In the second period, Jamie Benn lined up Staal in the neutral zone with a dangerous hit. The Stars' captain appeared to leave his feet when he plastered Staal from behind, a hit that forced the Canes' captain to the dressing room for further evaluation and a battery of concussion tests, and a hit that only resulted in a two-minute interference penalty but should be subject to further review by the NHL's department of player safety.

"I didn't love the hit. I wasn't sure where the puck was. I don't think it was anywhere near me," Staal said. "It was a good stinger in the shoulder. I think someone in the stands told me to go to the quiet room. I did all the stuff I had to do and felt fine."
It's fitting comeuppance that Reimer shut the door on Benn to end the shootout and seal the victory for the Canes.
"He's one of the best players in the league, and he has a ton of skill," Reimer said. "You want to go against the best, and that's what's so much fun about the game. Lucky for me and us tonight, I was able to get something on it."

Stats Pack

3: The Canes continued to stymy the Stars early, limiting Dallas to just three shots on goal in the first period. Nick Caamano burst in with speed just 31 seconds into the game, testing Reimer early, and with that, the Stars had more 5-on-5 shots (1) than they did in the final two periods on Saturday. Really!
74%: Staal won 20 of the 27 faceoffs he took, a game-high if you discount the one and only faceoff Steven Lorentz took (and won). Staal is the Canes' best faceoff man, so it's no surprise to see him taking the first draw in overtime - if you start with the puck, you have to spend less time chasing it down. He won the draw, of course, and then got off the ice for Sebastian Aho to hop on. "Just to get the boys going I've got to win that one," Staal smiled.
15: Trocheck netted his 15th career shootout goal, nine of which have decided the game.

Quote of the Night

"I hope we can rely on the next-man-up philosophy. Everyone has to contribute, whether we have the regulars or not. That's the recipe for success. These three games, that's pretty much what happened." - Rod Brind'Amour

Up Next

The Canes kick off February with a six-game road trip that features two-game sets in Chicago, Columbus and Dallas over the next two weeks.