RALEIGH, N.C. _ For almost two periods Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes were seemingly caught in a game of several near-misses and one make.
That all changed in the final 73 seconds of the second period. Lucas Wallmark and Martin Necas both scored and the Canes punched out a 3-0 victory at PNC Arena behind goalie Petr Mrazek.
Mrazek, masterful in net, picked up his third shutout of the season and the 21st of his career, stopping 32 shots.
The Canes' Warren Foegele scored in the first period, taking a pass from Andrei Svechnikov in the slot, tape to tape, and zipping a shot past goalie Antti Raanta.
Foegele's goal, his 10th, matched the forward's total in 77 games last season as a rookie. It also came after defenseman Brett Pesce had a shot hit the post and Sebastian Aho was denied on a short-handed breakaway. Before the period ended, center Erik Haula had a shot hit the crossbar, the puck falling just in front of the goal line.
It was more of the same in the second. A Canes shot off the end boards resulted in a weird bounce, the puck falling in front of an empty net before Raanta scrambled back to keep it out. Another near-miss for the Canes.
When Nino Niederreiter couldn't convert off a three-on-one rush with 3:08 to play in the second, it appeared the game would have a tight finish in the third.
The Coyotes had a four-game winning streak end Thursday in a 4-0 road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. But the Pacific Division leaders were doggedly keeping Friday's game close, creating offensive chances and testing Mrazek.
Then, the game-changers.
The Canes' fourth line produced the second score. Wallmark first won a face-off in the Arizona zone, then later got a piece of a Dougie Hamilton shot from the right point _ the puck going off Raanta's glove, nicking his helmet and going over his left shoulder with 1:13 left in the period.
Necas then made it 3-0, virtually by himself. The rookie forward showed off his savvy and quickness, carrying the puck through the left circle, circling the net and roofing a backhander with 9.6 seconds left in the period.
Raanta, who was returning from an injury, was replaced by Adin Hill in the third. By then, the biggest goaltending question was whether Mrazek could post a shutout.
Mrazek had some big saves in the second period before the Canes' two late goals. He stopped Lawson Crouse on a shot in tight, then had a Conor Garland shot knock off his helmet. He also flashed the glove a few times to make some flashy stops.
The Canes close out a seven-game homestead Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings with another throwback Whalers Night, donning the iconic green sweaters in a throwback to the franchise past.
The Canes' roster had a different look to it Friday _ Justin Williams and Haydn Fleury were listed as healthy extras. Williams, the former captain who came signed and rejoined the Canes this week, watched part of the game with his two kids, drawing a big hand when they were shown on the scoreboard.
