In a gripping NHL face-off on Tuesday evening, the Carolina Hurricanes clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, thanks to a late goal from Jalen Chatfield. With just 2:39 remaining on the clock, Chatfield impressively intercepted a lofty clearance in the right circle, and swiftly sent the puck sailing beneath Vitek Vanecek’s right arm into the net. This marked Chatfield’s third successful goal this season.
San Jose’s Valiant Effort Falls Short
The Sharks’ Luke Kunin showcased commendable effort, scoring both goals for San Jose. Despite Vanecek’s 25 saves — his first game since the Sharks traded goalie Mackenzie Blackwood to Colorado — it was not enough to secure a win for San Jose. Brent Burns and Shayne Gostisbehere also found the net for Carolina, while Pyotr Kochetkov admirably deflected 21 shots on goal.
The Hurricanes took an early lead, thanks to Gostisbehere’s goal just 4:26 into the opening period. However, a costly turnover from Gostisbehere in the second period allowed Kunin to score his second goal, giving San Jose a temporary 2-1 lead.
Player Highlights and Key Moments
The Sharks’ rookie, Macklin Celebrini, continues his excellent start in his debut NHL season. The top pick in the NHL draft delivered an assist on Kunin’s first goal, bringing his total to 16 points in his first 19 NHL games.
In the Hurricanes’ camp, the team managed to halt a mini-slump, having lost four of their previous five games. Despite crucial saves by Vanecek, including a breakaway save on Jordan Martinook and a close-range save on Sebastian Aho, the Hurricanes persevered to secure a much-needed home win.
A pivotal moment in the game came with Burns’ goal at 4:11 in the third period. The play was beautifully constructed, starting with a cross-ice pass from Martin Necas to Aho, who then returned the puck across the ice to Burns for a tap-in goal.
Notable Stats and Next Games
Burns, who spent 11 seasons with the Sharks, has now amassed 18 points in 30 career games against his former team. The veteran 39-year-old defenseman continues to prove his worth in the league.
Looking forward, the Sharks will wrap up their six-game road trip in St. Louis on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will continue their four-game homestand against Ottawa on Friday.
