After an excellent effort on Sunday night against the New Jersey Devils to close a busy week, the Carolina Hurricanes tried to replicate it against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Taylor Hall was the standout in Newark, posting a goal and an assist against his former club, and Brandon Bussi made 28 stops to earn the group a 3-1 win over their division foe.
Bussi was back in the crease against the Stars, having faced them in October when the Stars beat the Canes. Seth Jarvis returned to the lineup after an eight-game absence, while Noah Philp remained in to play his second game. The Stars countered with Jake Oettinger. They entered the night on a five-game losing streak and would be without captain Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
It's hard to be upset about the Canes' start. K'Andre Miller broke his long goal drought, getting his first since Opening Night to break the ice. Dallas scored on the power play, but the Canes did, too. Less than two minutes after Jason Robertson's goal, Shayne Gostisbehere hammered a shot from the point past Oettinger. Logan Stankoven capped it with a beautiful goal, making it 3-1 after 20.
Stank undresses Mikko 👀 pic.twitter.com/lBskI6YRcU
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 7, 2026
The good times kept rolling for the Canes in the second period. Miller added his second of the night with a drive from the top of the slot, giving him two. Then, Seth Jarvis hopped on a loose puck after Oettinger misplayed it behind the net, scoring his 20th of the season to chase Oettinger early. The Canes held the fort, preventing Dallas from gathering momentum, maintaining a 5-1 lead.
It wouldn't be a revenge game if Mikko Rantanen didn't score. He got Dallas within three with a goal 36 seconds into the final frame. Fortunately, it wouldn't signal a breakdown. William Carrier restored the four-goal lead by cleaning up a rebound in front of the net. Wyatt Johnston scored a late power-play goal, but it wasn't enough to kill the mood. The Canes obliterated the Stars, 6-3.
The Hurricanes' stars outshine the Stars' stars
The obvious emphasis for tonight's game was going to be Mikko Rantanen, and, like he always does, he found the scoresheet. Rantanen picked up a goal and an assist in his return to Raleigh, while Jason Robertson factored on all three Dallas goals. The Stars are a top-heavy offense, and they relied on them tonight. The Canes didn't have to do that, though their stars certainly got it done.
Andrei Svechnikov recorded the second four-point game of his career, setting up four of Carolina's six goals. Nikolaj Ehlers added a trio of assists. Seth Jarvis returned with a goal and an assist. All three make Sebastian Aho's measly assist look small by comparison. Still, they weren't the only players the Canes had to rely on. The back end played a pivotal part in the victory, too.
The defensemen join the fun on offense
When the Canes are at their best, their defensemen are providing a fair amount in the offensive zone. Tonight, the defense contributed three of the team's goals. Shayne Gostisbehere scored a big one on the power play in the first period, quickly responding to Dallas's tying tally. Jalen Chatfield also picked up an assist.
However, the big night came from K'Andre Miller. By opening the scoring, Miller broke through for the first time in three months. Not satisfied with one, he added another in the second period, which also served as the game-winner. Add an assist to his ledger on Logan Stankoven's goal, and it was a three-point night for him, giving the defensive group five for the contest.
Additional Thoughts
The crowd deserves a lot of love for the atmosphere they provided tonight. This was already going to be a big game between two very good teams. Add to it the wrinkle of Rantanen appearing for the first time as a former Hurricane, and it was a raucous environment. The "Logan's better" chants after his goal were the cherry on top.
Brandon Bussi got the call again tonight, and he delivered. He wasn't tasked early in the game, must like on Sunday, but Bussi still made the big saves when the team needed him to keep the momentum on its side. He improves to 15-2-1 by outdueling a big-time goalie and future Olympian in Jake Oettinger.
This was a great way to follow the win over the Devils. There wasn't a letdown after the hard-fought win. They threw everything at the Stars tonight, and the Stars didn't have an answer for it. While by no means a perfect effort, especially after just an okay third period, they put themselves in a great spot early, and there wasn't anything Dallas could do about it.
Up Next: The quick homestand continues for the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. The Anaheim Ducks will be in town, trying to turn their fortunes around after a rough month of hockey. The stay in Raleigh concludes on Saturday night with the Seattle Kraken in town. Next week begins with another back-to-back, as the Canes visit Detroit and St. Louis on Monday and Tuesday.