Recap: Hanifin Keeps Canes Rolling with OT Winner

Analysis from Raleigh
→ In dramatic fashion, the Carolina Hurricanes topped the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 in overtime to extend their point streak to a franchise-best 13 games (9-0-4) and keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Noah Hanifin scored the game-winning goal in overtime, Jeff Skinner tied the game late in regulation and Cam Ward made 23 saves.
"It was a great win," Hanifin said. "It was a huge win for us."
"I think we play the game the right way and we're a hard team to play against when we're emotionally engaged," head coach Bill Peters said. "Once we get to our game, then everything settles in. The belief system is very strong right now."

→ For nearly the entire night, the Hurricanes needed just one, one to get past Joonas Korpisalo to get something going offensively and find that groove they've had in these last 12 games. For quite some time, it seemed like they might come up empty.
"It took us awhile, but it was a good job by the guys sticking with it. You sort of had a feeling it was going to be an ugly one. We got a bit of fortunate bounce on that goal, but I think when we're working hard we had some pretty good looks," Skinner said. "Sometimes you get a good bounce when you're working hard and doing things right."
"It was one of those games where we felt like we had a lot of chances but we weren't getting any luck," Hanifin said. "We stayed really relentless and competed until the end of the game."
With 4:20 left in regulation, Skinner curled at the right circle and fired the puck toward the net. With Victor Rask jostling in front with defenseman Seth Jones, the puck ricocheted in off Jones' skate to tie the score and send PNC Arena into a frenzy.
"I tried to shoot it off the guy's foot and in the net," Skinner joked. "No, I actually kind of fanned on it. I was trying to get it to the net. Rasky does a great job being in front, and it takes a little bit of a fortunate bounce. We'll take those any time we can."
"I felt like it was coming. I thought we pushed pretty good in the third. I thought they were better than us early in the game, probably the first 10 or maybe even more. Then once we got skating, it was real even," Peters said. "It was that kind of game. It was just tight. Both teams played very hard and very well."
→ Having forced extra hockey with the late goal and stretched their point streak to a franchise-best 13 straight games, the Hurricanes were searching for the extra point in 3-on-3 overtime. It was again Skinner involved in the play, accepting a stretch pass from Hanifin at the blue line. Skinner spun around the defense of Jack Johnson and put the puck on net. It bounced out into the slot where Hanifin skated up and hammered home the game-winning shot, his first career overtime goal.
"It was a really good play by Skinny just getting it to the net again. It was a good rebound there, and I was coming right down the slot. I tried to rip it as hard as I could, and it went in," Hanifin said. "You always dream up an overtime goal, and that was my first one in the NHL. It's pretty special, but more importantly a huge win for our team."

→ Resiliency and confidence. The Hurricanes displayed both tonight and have for some time now. Carolina remains just four points out of a playoff spot with six games left to play.
"Guys believe, and guys are playing hard and playing hard for each other," Peters said.
"Guys believe in each other in here," Skinner said.
"We have a lot of confidence as a group right now," Hanifin said. "We're just taking it game-by-game, and hopefully those bounces keep coming our way. I think they will the more we stick to our game plan and get pucks to the net."
→ Ward made 23 saves on 24 shots and earned first-star honors in tonight's victory. His only blemish came late in the second period, when Johnson beat him top-shelf for the game's first goal.
"Wardo was huge. He made a bunch of huge saves for us," Skinner said.
→ Everyone held their collective breaths late in the first period leading into the second when Skinner took a shot off the stick of Derek Ryan right off his ankle. He fell to the ice and hobbled off, having to be helped to the room down the tunnel. Though he wasn't on the bench to begin the second period, he returned shortly thereafter.
"I feel fine. I wish it was someone else. Doc shoots it so hard it hurts," Skinner said with a smile. "It was fine. That's why I wear pads."
→ Thus ends the busiest month of the regular season for the Hurricanes. Playing 17 games in 30 days, the Hurricanes posted a 10-2-5 mark. With 25 points, it was the second most productive month in franchise history behind only January 2006 (26 points).
And it's not over yet. Six games remain in the regular season, and the Canes still have a shot at the postseason. They close out their four-game homestand on Saturday night against the Dallas Stars before traveling to Pittsburgh for a Sunday evening match-up with the Penguins.
"I like the growth individually in players and the growth in the maturity of our group, the willingness to do it right and the understanding that sometimes winning hurts," Peters said. "You learn how to win and you learn what it takes to win. That's what it's all about this time of year."
"We absolutely have a shot here to do this, and I think we have a lot of confidence as a group right now," Hanifin said. "We just beat one of the best teams in the league, so there's no reason we can't finish out really strong."