Raanta, Hurricanes blank Avalanche for third straight win

RALEIGH, N.C. --Antti Raanta made 36 saves, and the Carolina Hurricanes became the first team to shut out the Colorado Avalanche this season in a 2-0 win at PNC Arena on Thursday.

Ethan Bear put Carolina ahead 1-0 at 14:20 of the third period when his shot from the right boards went through Colorado goalie Darcy Kuemper's five-hole.
"It's like we're talking about all day, just get pucks to the net," Bear said. "We just got a lucky bounce."
Sebastian Aho scored into an empty net for the 2-0 final with 1:32 left.
The Hurricanes (40-12-5) won their third straight, extending their home point streak to 12 games (11-0-1) and their home winning streak to six.

Kuemper made 35 saves for the Avalanche (41-13-5), who have lost four of five. Colorado, playing its 59th game, entered Thursday second in the NHL in goals per game (3.91) behind the Florida Panthers (4.12).
"I thought it was a well-played hockey game by both teams, highly competitive, lots of pace," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "Not a lot of room to move; that's why the score was 0-0.
"They got a break when they threw it to the net, which is what can happen. I think it hits [Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri] up high by the battle and it changes direction and beats 'Kemps.' So that's the difference in the hockey game."
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar had his point and assist streaks end at 13 games, and forward Nathan MacKinnon had his 12-game point streak end.
Raanta has won three consecutive starts, the past two with Frederik Andersen out with an undisclosed injury.
"It was a pretty good game, pretty spirited," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "I think we all felt that 'Rants' had that kind of game in him. We all know how important goaltending is. It's nice to have two guys you can count on."
It was Raanta's second shutout of the season and 15th in 215 NHL games (195 starts).
"I think it's just getting that rhythm, getting that confidence and just playing the game. I don't have to think too much," Raanta said. "Obviously, a great feeling."

Kuemper made 19 saves in the first period.
"I thought he was really good, especially early on," Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "In the first period, he did a great job of settling things down and keeping us in that game. They came out fast and hard, and he made some big stops."
NOTES:Makar's assist streak was the longest in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history. It ranks fifth in NHL history among defensemen behind Paul Coffey (17 games, 1985-86), Brian Leetch (15, 1991-92), Phil Housley (14, 1992-93) and Bobby Orr (14, 1970-71). … The Avalanche had not lost consecutive games in regulation since a three-game losing streak Oct. 16-21. … Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard was scratched with a lower-body injury and returned to Denver for evaluation. … Aho tied Jeff Skinner for seventh on the Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers points list with 379 (170 goals, 209 assists).