*Photo from the Raleigh News & Observer*
The Carolina Hurricanes are cruising. Entering Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, the Hurricanes had won 7 straight games. That streak extended. Dougie Hamilton scored a short handed goal, Nino Niederreiter added a goal, and the Hurricanes topped the Red Wings with a 2-1 win on Sunday.
Hamilton started the scoring in the game, with a short handed breakaway goal at 15:13 of the second period, his 3rd goal of the season. In the 3rd period, Niederreiter added a goal, his 12th of the season, just 1:37 into the 3rd, giving the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead. With 10 seconds left, Anthony Mantha scored for the Red Wings, but that was all Detroit could muster.
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said of the win that "The penalty kill was really solid. That was the difference in the hockey game. We had the one and could have had a couple more. We always talk about that special teams are a huge part of the game, and we were definitely good tonight there."
Alex Nedeljkovic was the starting goalie for the Hurricanes, picking up the win in a dominant performance. Nedeljkovic turned aside 25 shots out of the 26 that came his way, nearly getting a shutout, but alas, gave up a goal to Mantha with 10 seconds left. The Hurricanes winning streak extended to 8 games with the win, and Nedeljkovic is now 5-1-0 in his last 6 starts, improving his record to 6-2-1 this season. The Hurricanes sit at a 20-6-1 record this season, first place in the NHL's Central Division.
Nedeljkovic addressed the winning streak for the Hurricanes, saying that "The locker room is amazing. The mood is really relaxed and fun, but when we get on the ice, it's time to work. We try to come ready and prepared for games as best we can, and there's talent up and down the lineup. It's been a good run so far, but we've got a long way to go."
On the other side, Jonathan Bernier started for the Red Wings, being hit with the loss. Bernier had a good game, saving 30 shots out of 32 that came his way, but it wasn't enough for Detroit. Bernier's record falls to 7-6-0 with the loss, while Detroit sits at a lowly 8-17-4 this season, dead last in the Central Division.
Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said of the loss that "We played hard, we competed. That's a good team over there. It's an emotional game, it was very much like a playoff game tonight. Close checking. I like how we hung in there with one of the best teams in our division. We had chances, we've just got to score."
Carolina and Detroit square off again on Tuesday, with James Reimer expected to start for Carolina, and Bernier expected to go for the Wings.
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