Carolina Hurricanes left wing Teuvo Teravainen (86) is congratulated by center Sebastian Aho (20) right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Feb. 27, 2022.James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
Teuvo Teravainen had a goal and an assist, Sebastian Aho also scored and the Carolina Hurricanes won their fifth game in a row by beating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Sunday.
Andrei Svechnikov provided two assists for the Hurricanes, and Frederik Andersen made 29 saves for his league-leading 29th victory.
Edmonton had scored at least three goals in eight straight games, but put only six shots on goal in the third period.
“We’re just so in sync, whoever is out there,” Carolina defenceman Brett Pesce said of the defensive effort. “Obviously, we’re really confident right now.”
Edmonton centre Leon Draisaitl, who is second in the league with 36 goals, didn’t register a shot on goal.
“If you’re holding that guy without a shot, you’re doing something right,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
One day after his first career hat trick, Derek Ryan scored an unassisted goal for the Oilers, who were on their third stop of a five-game trip. Mike Smith made 27 saves for Edmonton, but was tagged for a loss in his third consecutive outing.
“I thought they pushed us,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “We pushed them.”
Both of Carolina’s goals came in similar fashion with crisp passing.
“It’s kind of what was available,” Brind’Amour said of the puck movement. “The whole key for us is to understand what’s available, what is the best play.”
Jalen Chatfield and Svechnikov set up Teravainen’s goal in the first period. And Aho finished a power-play sequence when the puck went from Teravainen to Svechnikov later in the period.
“We created those changes and obviously big goals early on,” said Aho, who now has a team-high 23 goals. “It was enough for us.”
The Oilers have allowed at least one power-play goal in six games in a row.
“That’s an area that we can continue to clean up,” Woodcroft said. “We can be better for sure.”
The Hurricanes were perfect on four penalty-killing stints.
“It all starts with a hot goalie,” Aho said. “You trust your own goalie.”
Oilers captain Connor McDavid, the NHL scoring leader with 75 points, logged less than 2½ minutes in the first period. He exited after a high-sticking penalty on Carolina defenceman Brady Skjei. McDavid came back at the beginning of the second period after receiving what Woodcroft referred to as treatment for a laceration and dental work.
Ryan has scored four goals across a two-day period after managing four goals in his first 47 games this season. A former Carolina player, Ryan has scored four of Edmonton’s last five goals.
Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins missed the game after sustaining an upper-body injury during the first period Saturday at Florida. Right winger Kailer Yamamoto was out of the Edmonton lineup for this first time this season, with Woodcroft calling his situation day-to-day with bumps and bruises.