After two strong showings on the road against 2026 playoff opponents, the Carolina Hurricanes were back at the Lenovo Center, trying to keep their winning ways going. The group claimed victory in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch on Tuesday night in an ugly contest that eventually turned squarely in the Canes' favor in a 6-4 victory.
Pyotr Kochetkov was back between the pipes after picking up the team's first win of the season in Philadelphia. The rest of his group remained in place from the last two contests. Former Hurricane and first-year bench boss Manny Malholtra sent Kevin Lankinen out to try to turn around a rough start to his campaign.
The Canes scored early and often in the first period. K'Andre Miller started the party by depositing a rebound chance after Sean Walker's shot was tipped off the post by William Carrier. Then, the power play stayed hot. Andrei Svechnikov scored twice in a little over two minutes, burying a gorgeous backhand and finishing a backdoor pass from Jackson Blake. After 20, the home team was in control.
The fourth line kept it going when Mark Jankowski sold the pass and snapped it over Lankinen early in the second. Jake DeBrusk was quick to answer, getting the Canucks on the board just 43 seconds later. To make up for it, Logan Stankoven scored twice, burying a short-handed breakaway and continuing the power play's big night with a late snipe to extend the lead to five at the break.
With two players on hat trick watch, one of them needed to pull through for the crowd. Late in the third, it was clear that it was Stankoven's night. Taylor Hall made another great pass, and his center finished it with a wrister from the slot to bring the hats onto the ice. DeBrusk's second of the night momentarily quieted the crowd, but it was all Carolina tonight in a 7-2 stomping on home ice.
Big nights all around pace a win that the Hurricanes really needed
For the new fans around here, this had all of the classic calling cards of what we would call a "trap" game. By all accounts, the Canucks are a vastly inferior team on paper. However, these are the types of teams you're inclined to play down to, especially when you're starting to find a rhythm; hence it being considered a trap. Tonight, the Canes made sure they didn't fall for it.
You can go down the list of big performances. Andrei Svechnikov (2G), Jackson Blake (2A), and Sebastian Aho (1A) all extended their point streaks to four games. Taylor Hall had another multi-point night. Sean Walker recorded the first four-point game of his career with four helpers. Shayne Gostisbehere had two assists. Mark Jankowski scored again. However, one player trumped them all.
Logan Stankoven didn't have a hat trick entering the night. He changed that in the most natural way possible. He finished at three different strengths, scoring twice in the second and once in the third to get the job done. The final goal was the 100th point of his career, getting him to his first big points milestone in a stylish fashion. I'd say that he has come alive.
Special teams continue to be a massive positive early in the season
The Hurricanes' power play has found its magic, going back to their game against the Capitals. They were really bad against Florida, but they got one against Washington, and they've gotten better with each passing game. They might've only scored once in Montreal on Tuesday, but they looked pretty good. Tonight, they found another level.
It's physically impossible to be better than 100 percent, and the Canes were exactly that against the Canucks. Svechnikov, Blake, and Gostisbehere connected on both goals in the first period, with Svechnikov responsible for both tucks. Stankoven had the third with a snipe late in the second. All three passes to set up those goals were pretty sweet, too.
Adding a complimentary penalty kill makes a team even more dangerous. The Canes' kill has gotten more work than anyone else in the league. It's a good thing they've been very good. Tonight, they went 4-for-4 and added the first short-handed goal of the season, courtesy of Stankoven. They've made it look very easy at times this season, and tonight was no exception.
While both goalies will be needed this weekend, Kochetkov needs a run
Brandon Bussi got into the win column on Tuesday, and that's a big deal for his confidence, especially after a tough first period. However, there's no doubt that Pyotr Kochetkov has been the better netminder through five games. His workload in Philadelphia and against Vancouver hasn't been too strenuous, yet he has looked calm and collected.
I can probably point to one rough moment with the puck tonight, which was bailed out by a Walker block. Otherwise, Kochetkov was positively impactful when moving the puck, and he has looked very comfortable between the pipes after a shaky preseason. There hasn't been any early-season rust that I can see from him thus far. It might be worth giving him a small run as the team's starter.
With a weekend back-to-back, we'll see both Bussi and Kochetkov, though the order is uncertain. I'd think that Bussi draws the assignment against the Blackhawks on Saturday, giving Kochetkov the net on Sunday in Philadelphia again. However, with Washington looming again on Tuesday and a long break before their State Fair trip, they should seriously consider Kochetkov when the Caps visit again.
Add us as a preferred source on Google