Canes Come From Behind, End Year with a W
Just when it looked like the Carolina Hurricanes were going to lose their New Year’s Eve game against the Montrèal Canadiens, three quick third period goals split between Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal changed all that.
The Canadiens thought that they were on the road to an easy win, getting their first goal a short 1:20 into the game. It was Lars Eller’s ninth goal of the season, thanks to a turnover behind the net from Alex Galchenyuk. Their second goal came from Max Pacioretty at 7:46 thanks to a redirect from David Desharnais. In a period laden with penalties, forty minutes in total, Montrèal was able to score goals where the Hurricanes weren’t. Unfortunately for the Canes, forward Riley Nash left the game during the first with a lower-body injury and did not return.
The only goal of the second period was from Max Pacioretty at 14:24, the only goal scored in the middle frame.
Canes coach Kirk Muller must have given the boys a hefty pep talk during the second intermission, because the team that took the ice in the third period was a different one. They were finally able to use a Canadiens penalty to their advantage as Jeff Skinner snapped in two quick goals behind Carey Price a mere thirty-seven seconds apart. Within two and a half minutes Eric Staal put the puck in the net to tie the game. The loudest house in the NHL were on their feet, ecstatic that their team was able to make the comeback. It looked like they were on their way to a win after Manny Malhotra gave the team a one-goal lead at 8:16. PK Subban, and his beard, scored two minutes later to tie the game and send it to overtime.
It was the Alex Semin who was able to snap a shot behind the goaltender, Price, from the left face off circle, giving the team a much needed win to end 2013.
Despite their early game success, the Canadiens were not able to pull leave Raleigh with a win, or even a star on the game.
