Mrazek spectacular in net as Hurricanes outlast Pens in shootout

Carolina goalie stops all shooters to cap off win

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

Peter Koutroumpis

editor@trianglesportsnet.com

RALEIGH, N.C. – Playoff hope and dreams remained alive at PNC Arena on Tuesday.

Led by a 36-save performance from goaltender Petr Mrazek, the Carolina Hurricanes reinforced a hold on a wildcard playoff spot following a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Letting the players decide it

Goals scored in regulation from Brock McGinn and captain Justin Williams kept the Hurricanes even with contributions from Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel and Kris Letang.

Pens netminder Matt Murray’s 37 saves was also a part of an impressive showing from both sides.

The only difference eventually became a shootout goal from defenseman Dougie Hamilton – an attempt that Murray couldn’t get a hold of.

“Lots of scoring chances, just not a lot of goals. It was a good effort from both teams” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

“Goaltending is huge, and it was evident tonight; both guys played great. It was actually fun to watch; sittin’ back there, didn’t have to do much, matchin’ lines. Kind of like, ‘Okay, let’s go’. We just let the players decide it.”

Boxscore: Carolina 3, Pittsburgh 2 SO

Tough to find openings

Following a scoreless first period, McGinn’s ninth goal of the season put the Hurricanes ahead at the 9:36 mark of the second.

The celebration from the Carolina faithful was short-lived and replaced with Pittsburgh’s supporters’ cheers when Guentzel tied it up at one apiece 38 seconds later.

As Mrazek continued to stone efforts from Penguins’ top scorers including Sidney Crosby (4 shots) and Phil Kessel (4 shots), Murray did the same and kept Sebastian Aho (2 shots) and Nino Niederreiter (2 shots) off the sheet as well.

As hard as Mrazek worked, a quick breakout pass to Guentzel sent him on an eventual 3-on-1 that translated into a go-ahead goal for Pittsburgh.

Guentzel’s saucer pass from the right boards to Bryan Rust in the slot was then redirected back across past a sprawling Brett Pesce to Letang  who beat the Canes netminder.

The defenseman’s 16th goal of the season put Pittsburgh up 2-1 with 4:37 remaining in regulation time.

Drawing it up

While the situation looked bleak for Carolina to tie it, a timeout with two minutes remaining gave Brind’Amour time to draw up the extra-man situation with Mrazek on the bench and with the ensuing faceoff deep in the Pittsburgh zone.

It paid off as Jordan Staal’s draw back to Hamilton allowed him to add to his game-high seven shots on goal which was stopped by Murray.

However, the big rebound allowed Williams the opportunity to score his 22nd goal and tie the score just four seconds later.

“Those things happen – it’s one a million usually, you know, (when) that works,” Brind’Amour said humbly shaking off any perceived influence he had on drawing up the game-tying play.

“Again, it was a great effort from both teams. I know Sully would be saying the same thing. He’s proud of his group, they worked hard. It was a good fought game.”

Finishing the job

Even though they eventually came up with the win, Carolina’s inability to capitalize on the power play late in the third and during overtime put the pressure fully on Mrazek to finish what he started during the shootout.

While Murray held off Sebastian Aho and Jaccob Slavin after Hamilton beat him, the Hurricanes netminder stymied Kessel, Crosby and Guentzel in succession and completed the win.

“You’re hoping that we’re going to tie the game and go to overtime,” Mrazek said.

“We were here for two points and we got those. We battled hard.”

Peter Koutroumpis: 401-323-8960, @pksport