In Raleigh, the visiting San Jose Sharks blew a 4-2 lead in the third period on Friday, and lost to the Hurricanes, 5-4, in extra time.
The Hurricanes’ Martin Necas tied the game with 12 seconds to go in regulation, and the completed the heroics with the game-winner with 55 seconds gone in the extra session.
“When coach puts you out there, that’s what you’re trying to do,” Necas said. “We always feel good for the overtime, you have more space there. It was a 2-on-1 [Friday and a] great play by ‘Svech.’ I just had to put it in.”
Antti Raanta made 26 saves in the Carolina win.
The Hurricanes improved to 31-9-8.
“Got your entertainment’s worth, that’s for sure,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It was a great finish. It felt like we were out of it. Obviously, our skill guys got it done.”
The Sharks took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal from Oskar Lindblom.
Calvin de Haan tied for the Canes in the opening period, 1-1.
“I feel like I was due for one at some point,” de Haan said. “It was nice to contribute tonight. Overall, though, I think it’s a pretty good team effort at the end of the day.”
San Jose dropped to 14-25-11.
“We’ve had a season of incredibly disappointing losses,” San Jose coach David Quinn said. “I just loved the way we played for really most of the game. Unfortunately, we’ve got a lot of practice in losing games in this fashion. I am very disappointed for our players, because I thought they did a really good job. [They] deserved a better fate.”
The game remained tied until the third period when Sebastian Aho scored 17 seconds into the frame for a 2-1 lead.
The Sharks replied with three goals starting with a marker from Nick Bonino.
“We process this type of game so much,” Bonino said. “We’re in every game we play. We’re in every game and we find ways to lose them. It’s not good enough. I don’t know if [we were] overwhelmed, [but] tons of guys in this room, we’ve played in some pretty big situations before.”
Michael Eyssimont and Mario Ferraro then scored to give the Sharks a 4-2 advantage they promptly coughed up.
Ferraro was an empty-net goal at 18:08, but Aho scored his second of the night 15 seconds later to cut into the lead, 4-3.
“We believe in each other, and there’s no quit in this team either,” Aho said. “We work hard until the game is over and obviously, that was the case tonight.”
James Reimer made 31 saves in the Sharks loss.
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