#LGRW Final: Red Wings fall in series finale at Carolina, 3-1

DETROIT --Jakub Vrana scored a highlight-reel goal for his sixth tally in seven games, but the Detroit Red Wings fell to the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-1, on Thursday at PNC Arena.

The Red Wings (17-26-9, 43 points) finished the season series against the Central Division-leading Hurricanes (33-10-7, 73 points) with an even 4-4-0 record.
Vrana's goal marked his seventh point (6-1-7) with the Red Wings since being acquired from the Washington Capitals at the Trade Deadline. In all, Vrana has 32 points (17-15-32) in 46 games this season.

Goaltender Jonathan Bernier turned aside 29 shots and the Red Wings blocked 17 shots on the night, including 10 saves in the first period.
Thursday's contest marked the fourth straight game the Red Wings only had one power-play opportunity (0-for-1). Detroit held Carolina's league-best power play to 0-for-3 on the night.
The Red Wings outshot the Hurricanes, 8-6, in the opening frame before Carolina's offense found its footing, outshoot Detroit, 26-9, in the final two periods.
Detroit had the first scoring chance three minutes into the game when forward Michael Rasmussen sprung loose on a 2-on-1 odd-man rush and sent a perfect backhand pass to Vrana, who pulled the puck to his backhand and hit the crossbar.
Carolina had its best opportunity of the period eight minutes into the frame when forward Vincent Trocheck received a perfect backdoor pass at the top of the crease. Trocheck fired a quick shot, but Bernier got a piece of the puck with his glove to keep it out.

In only his second NHL game, Red Wings forward Joe Veleno had a chance for his first career goal with less than two minutes remaining in the first period when he came down the right wing and fired a shot that Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer had to fight off with his blocker.
Carolina opened the scoring at 4:40 of the second period when Brady Skjei fired a wrist shot from the high slot that found the top corner of the net. Hurricanes forward Warren Foegele extended the lead to 2-0 at 13:29 of the second period when he crashed the net and scored on his own rebound.
Vrana made it a one-goal game with his marker at 17:31 of the second period. The winger created a turnover at the Hurricanes' blue line and deked Reimer before depositing the puck in the top corner from his backhand.
But Carolina would reclaim the two-goal lead when Teuvo Teravainen capitalized off a Red Wings' miscue at 9:48 of the third period.

Detroit pulled Bernier with five minutes remaining for an extra attacker, but the Wings were unable to light the lamp and the Hurricanes earned the victory to improve to 6-0-3 in their last nine games.
The Red Wings wrap up their 2020-21 home schedule with a pair of games this weekend against Tampa Bay at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday at 3 p.m. (Bally Sports Detroit/Red Wings Radio Network) and Sunday at 3 p.m. (NBC/Red Wings Radio Network).