‘Canes give up two-goal lead to Kings, lose in OT

The Hurricanes have a few things to work on: namely, getting a lead and keeping it.

Carolina earned one point in the standings but dropped the first game in a 6-game swing that will take the team to Anaheim, Pittsburgh, New York, Montreal, and St. Louis. The Hurricanes scored three goals in quick succession in the second period, but allowed the Kings to climb back into the game. Michal Handzus scored his second goal with 1:79 left in overtime to give Los Angeles the win. The Kings went to 2-2 and the ‘Canes dropped to 2-1-1.

Cam Ward looked shaky early in net for his third straight start, allowing Handzus’ first goal just 56 seconds into the game. The Hurricanes have not scored first in any of their four games this season.

Zach Boychuk suited up for his first NHL game, becoming the first Hurricanes player since Eric Staal in 2003 to play for the team in his draft year. He started out on a line with Rod Brind’Amour, logging 9:21 of ice time and recording 4 hits.

Ryan Bayda, Dan LaCouture, and Matt Cullen scored the Hurricanes’ goals within a span of 6:20 in the second period, and defenseman Niclas Wallin added two assists, good for second star honors. However, the Kings’ Dustin Brown scored a minute later and star center Anze Kopitar tallied his first of the season to tie it up midway through the third.

Close your eyes, plug your ears, and hum ‘Everything is Alright” if you hate bad news. Good? Okay. Red-hot defenseman Frank Kaberle, who had 3 assists in 3 games before tonight’s game, left after blocking a shot by Kyle Quincey in the second period and didn’t return. The ‘Canes have not yet made an announcement regarding the severity of Kaberle’s injury.

This one has to sting, as the ‘Canes were on the receiving end of a come-from-behind victory for the first time after handing Florida and Tampa Bay consecutive losses in that fashion. The team will have some practice time in California before facing off against Anaheim, who shut out the Sharks for its first win of the young season earlier tonight, on Sunday night at 8 p.m.