Recap: Reimer, Canes Shut Out Red Wings

DETROIT - Backed by James Reimer's 19-save performance, the Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Detroit Red Wings, 2-0.
Reimer's shutout is his first with the Hurricanes and first since March 2018. Sebastian Aho recorded a two-point night that included the game-winning goal and the lone assist on Teuvo Teravainen's empty-net tally.
Here are five takeaways from the Motor City.

1. Back-to-Back Wins
A night after a solid 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers, the Hurricanes responded with another two points in what head coach Rod Brind'Amour said "wasn't pretty, necessarily, but it was a good road win."
The first 20 minutes were a bit loose and scrambly, but from there, the Hurricanes clamped down, found the first goal of the game and packed it in from there.
The difference was behind them in net. James Reimer didn't have a whole lot to do, especially in the latter two periods, but he was steady and kept the game scoreless in the first period to allow his team to find their game.
"We didn't like the first period. We gave them a few too many," Aho said. "That's why we have a good goalie there. He made a few gems."
"We had a little iffy first period. We weren't sharp. But, I thought we locked it down from there," Brind'Amour said. "Got a good win out of it."
2. Reimer Shuts the Door
James Reimer himself made the observation: the first shutout of his NHL career game against the Canes on Feb. 3, 2011, when he made 27 saves for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"Way back in the day," he said. "Nice to get one with [the Canes] now. It comes full circle, right?"
Reimer's most impressive work in his first shutout performance with the Canes came early. He turned away Darren Helm on a shorthanded breakaway in the first period to preserve the 0-0 score.

"We weren't sharp early and gave the other team two or three breakaways on our power play. That's death if they score," Brind'Amour said. "He held the fort down, and we were able to get to our game."
After seeing 11 shots in the first period, Reimer saw just eight total over the next two periods, including only three in the third - a far cry from the 50-shot onslaught he faced in Florida over a month ago.
"You never know. When you're prepared, you're focusing on what you need to do, and that doesn't change whether you face 100 shots or three shots," he said. "You're just focused on your game and looking at the puck. It makes it a lot easier when the guys don't let anything get through. It was fun to watch them work as hard as they did."
3. Locking it Down
Credit Reimer for the donut on Detroit's side of the scoreboard, obviously, but also credit the Hurricanes team defense for tightening up and locking it down in the final 40 minutes of the game. It started with puck possession, preventing the Red Wings from gaining much steam up the ice and smothering any threatening chances that did develop.
"Simple things, little things. We got pucks deep and grinded in their end," Aho said. "They couldn't really play offense and were kind of gassed when they finished their shifts. It went our way."

The Red Wings were without Anthony Mantha, the team leader in both points (23) and goals (12) and a player who has scored six goals in eight career games against the Canes, including two on Nov. 1.
That further limited the Wings' offense, which entered the game ranked last in the league for goals per game (2.36).
The Hurricanes were also able to suppress Detroit's chances, limiting the Red Wings to just 19 total shots on goal. After an 11-shot first period, the Red Wings recorded just five shots in the second and three shots in the third; in fact, up 1-0, the Canes held Detroit without a shot for nearly the first eight minutes of the third period.
"Just attention to detail. That's a fast team over there," Reimer said. "If we're on them and playing defense first, we can kind of smother their speed and clog them up before they get going. I think that's what you saw in the last 40. Guys just really buckled down."
"Overall, we just defended fairly well after the first, and that's what got us the win," Brind'Amour said. "We actually had quite a few good scoring opportunities, too, and I thought their goalie played really well."
4. Aho Nets the Game-Winner
Sometimes, all it takes is a simple play and a bounce to beat a goaltender who is playing well, and that's what the Hurricanes got to finally dent the scoreboard in the second period.
Sebastian Aho sent an intended pass off the end boards, and the puck caromed back in front, handcuffing Jimmy Howard, who spun like a top in the crease, unable to locate the puck. Aho then tapped it in for his team-leading 12th goal of the season.

"I tries to go off the boards to Turbo … but I guess he can't skate that fast," Aho joked. "I'll take that. It was kind of a lucky bounce."
In 12 November games, Aho has totaled nine goals and four assists, 13 of his 19 points this season. Andrei Svechnikov recorded the secondary assist on the goal to stretch his point streak to eight games (4g, 7a), the longest by any Canes skater this season.
5. Killing It Dead
With just 2:27 left in regulation and the Canes maintaining their 1-0 lead, Nino Niederreiter was whistled for his team's first penalty of the night.
Suddenly, the Red Wings were set up with a 6-on-4 advantage, the game on the line. Folks watching from afar clenched, but the Canes? They just kept playing their game.
"When you have a hot goalie in the net, you have confidence to play PK," Aho said.
Aho spun a pass off the far boards to spring Teuvo Teravainen down the ice for the shorthanded, empty-net goal, sealing the Canes' victory.

"We were doing it right, and we had to get a good kill," Brind'Amour said. "I thought that was really impressive how we did that. I don't think we gave them a chance in the 6-on-4 situation. Everyone who was out there did a real nice job, and obviously it was nice to get an empty-netter there to not have to sweat it out."
Up Next
The Hurricanes will head back home for a scheduled day off and a practice before hitting the road once more to face off with the New York Rangers in Manhattan on the eve of Thanksgiving.