Hurricanes head into break on a roll. Takeaways from Carolina’s 3-1 win over Arizona
Dmitry Orlov will soon be headed to Florida, where he has family waiting, where he can unwind and relax and enjoy a few days in the sun.
The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman also can enjoy some pleasant thoughts about his last game before the 10-day break.
It was Orlov whose goal with 36 seconds left in regulation gave the Canes the lead Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes, a breakthrough score for Carolina after nearly 60 minutes of being denied by goalie Connor Ingram.
Jesper Fast would follow with another goal 13 seconds later, sealing a 3-1 victory for the Hurricanes.
Winger Martin Necas, who has been on a heater in the last five games with four goals, had a power-play score for the Canes, who will take a 28-15-5 record and 61 points into their four-day “bye week” and then the NHL All-Star Game break.
Goalie Antti Raanta earned his 12th win of the season with just 10 saves, ending a memorable week that included the “Moms Trip,” back-to-back wins over Boston and New Jersey and an emotional celebration on the ice at PNC Arena.
“We’ve pushed to this point and now we get a mental break, really,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “When we come back we’ll look to pick up where we left off.”
Big third period for Canes
Ingram, as sharp as he was, couldn’t get the Coyotes to overtime as the Hurricanes winged 18 shots at him while the Coyotes had none — not one shot -- in the third period. Carolina had a 39-11 shooting advantage in the game, 32-3 in the last two periods in a clinical display of shot suppression.
“We were real patient. That was the key,” Brind’Amour said. “We didn’t get frustrated. They were working hard defending. I think we wore them down a little bit and got the break.”
Orlov, named the game’s first star, scored the winner on a shot to Ingram’s right -- his third goal of the season. Orlov nearly scored in the first period, his attempt going off the post, but didn’t miss late in the game, taking a pass from Jack Drury, skating in and beating Ingram to the far post.
“You have to stay patient and keep doing what you need to do,” Orlov said. “You can’t be frustrated. Today I think we did everything right and it’s important.”
Orlov finally settling in
Patience has been necessary for Orlov this season. After signing with the Hurricanes as a high-priced free agent in July, the veteran D-man had to fit into a new system and accept getting fewer minutes than he might have expected, joining Jalen Chatfield on the Canes’ third D pair.
“It’s tough for him because he’s used to playing a lot more of a role in terms of minutes,” Brind’Amour said. “But the strength of our team obviously is on the back end and it’s tough to find those minutes that he’s used. But his value is still the same.
“That was his best game, I thought, as a Hurricane. Just did everything he needed to, good defending, and then jumping in there and making a great play. Hopefully that helps him kind of turn the corner and feel good about what he’s doing.”
Orlov said he is feeling better about it. It took some time, but he has settled in.
“For sure I feel more comfortable,” he said. “I didn’t play my best hockey before because sometimes it’s hard, you know. We’ve got a good D corps and I can play better in different situations.
“But what’s good is we’re playing good as a team and it’s helpful to get more comfortable. You don’t want to look back on the season and say, ‘We could have had that point and that point.’ So you have to be focused and play hard.”
Orlov has been doing that. So have the Canes, 11-2-1 in the 14 games since the Christmas break.
And after the All-Star Game break? The Canes resume practice Feb. 4 and next play Feb. 6 at home against the Vancouver Canucks.
“It’s important to come back the right way and not lose our focus,” Orlov said.
