Hurricanes win a wild game against Pittsburgh in OT, 6-5

The game provided action from the jump with the return of Sidney Crosby, playing in his first NHL game since the Olympic Break. Action was up and down, testing both Stuart Skinner and Frederik Andersen. The defense for the Canes was a little loose at first, as Andersen had to make a few stops, and then Mark Jankowski was called for a hold.

The penalty was a potential repeat of Tuesday’s game where the Canes came out strong and then having to kill a penalty turned the game. Instead, right off the face off Jordan Staal was able to gain the puck, bounce it off the wall in front of the Canes bench for a flying Jordan Martinook. Martinook was able to bash it past Skinner on the breakaway, putting the Canes up 1-0 nine seconds into the kill.

View Link The Hurricanes continued the strong PK as Jarvis missed a short handed chance himself, and the Penguins power play ended with the Canes having four shots on goal to the Pens not having any. Pittsburgh had led in SOG 7-3 before the power play, but when the period ended it was the Canes leading 14-12 in shots and 1-0 on the scoreboard. The second period had been one that Hurricanes fans had learned to dread since the return from the Olympics, but the Canes started off as if they were going to reverse the trend.

They came out with a force, dominating the opening minutes of the frame, and not allowing Pittsburgh to get their first shot on goal until 9:30 had disappeared. By that point the Canes had ten. But on the second shot on goal by the Penguins, Sidney Crosby announced to the league he was back.