RALEIGH — The Hurricanes got starting goalie Pyotr Kochetkov back, but their offense was still missing in action.
So was any chance of a goaltender interference review going their way — again.
The Hurricanes laid an egg for 40 minutes, mustering just seven shots on goal through two periods. Still, Carolina found a way to tie the game and take the lead in the third, only to have the go-ahead goal overturned after a review for goaltender interference.
The visiting Kraken then scored twice in just over four minutes to reclaim control en route to a 4-2 win Tuesday at Lenovo Center.
“We all know this goalie interference thing is very subjective,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said of Jack Drury’s goal that was taken off the board when officials ruled Carolina forward Eric Robinson had made contact with Seattle goalie Joey Daccord before the puck reached the crease. “I guess we just seem to always end up on the wrong end of them, and that’s what’s a little bit frustrating.”
Also frustrating? The Hurricanes’ first two periods. Carolina, which has now dropped three straight, looked like a shell of the team that had exceeded expectations in the season’s first two months to sit atop the Eastern Conference.
“They played a good game. You have to give them credit,” Brind’Amour said of the Kraken. “So let’s not take that away, but we stunk.”
Seattle had built a 2-1 lead on a goal by Eeli Tolvanen at 5:56 of the second period, but the lead probably should have been bigger given that the Hurricanes managed just two shots on goal in the middle frame — the fewest the team has had in a full 20-minute period in more than two calendar years.
Carolina, however, seized momentum in the third.
On their first — and only — power play opportunity of the night, Martin Necas blew by Kraken defensemen Jamie Oleksiak and slid the puck five-hole past Daccord (17 saves) to tie the score 2-2 at 5:43 of the third.
“That is about the only good thing we did all night,” Brind’Amour said.
Necas then set up Drury for a wide-angle shot that rattled into the net just over four minutes later at 10:02. But Seattle challenged that Robinson had made contact with Daccord.
A controversial moment during tonight's #Kraken #Canes game as Drury's goal was recalled after Seattle challenged it for goalie interference.
What I see:
– Daccord exits paint
– Robinson outside of paint
– Time to resetWhat do y'all think on this call?#raiseup #seakraken #NHL pic.twitter.com/7rsw3zH9IX
— Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) December 4, 2024
The NHL determined Robinson had interfered with Daccord, and the goal was taken off the scoreboard.
Goal reversal explanation from the NHL pic.twitter.com/RrBHQVwuY4
— Cory Lavalette (@corylav) December 4, 2024
I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet,” said Robinson, who scored the Hurricanes’ first goal of the night, his seventh of the season. “I felt like I stayed outside the crease, but, yeah, I don’t know — haven’t watched it. … It’s hard. It’s case by case. It’s not easy.”
It was the ninth consecutive goaltender interference challenge that went against the Hurricanes.
“I’d love for it to go our way,” Brind’Amour said. “The explanation was sometimes they call it that way, sometimes they don’t. … We lose it a lot of times.”
The last time Carolina was on the right side of a goalie interference ruling was Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference final against Florida. The streak of nine straight began later that series when the Hurricanes had a failed challenge on Matthew Tkachuk’s series-clinching goal with five seconds left in Game 4.
“Just look at the history of the goalie interferences with this team,” Brind’Amour said. “Just look at ‘em.”
Forty-six seconds after Necas’ go-ahead was reversed, Yanni Gourde scored to again give the Kraken the lead.
“It’s frustrating, any of them: offside, goalie interference,” Robinson said. “When you score, it’s deflating when they take it away.”
Just over four minutes later, Brandon Tanev added an insurance goal and sealed Carolina’s fate.
The Hurricanes will have a chance to reset before facing visiting Colorado on Thursday.
“Everybody’s got to start with ourselves, look in the mirror, and go out there next game and do our best,” Necas said.
Notes: Necas had two points and is tied with Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov for the league lead with 39 points. … Kochetkov had 24 saves in his first start since being injured in overtime of Carolina’s Nov. 23 in Columbus. … Jaden Schwartz scored 19 seconds into the game for Seattle, his sixth goal of the season.
