Svechnikov and Roslovic score twice, the power play converts three times, and Necas adds four points to help the Canes earn a lopsided win in their return home.
After a successful 5-1-0 road trip, the Carolina Hurricanes returned to the friendly confines of the Lenovo Center to begin a four-game homestand. The first challenger in Raleigh was the Boston Bruins. The Canes, riding a four-game win streak after their win in Vancouver on Monday, looked to keep the Bruins’ recent slide going by giving the Caniacs a good show on Halloween.
A Hurricanes goalie would start back-to-back games for the first time this season. Pyotr Kochetkov was back in the crease, hoping to put together a stronger performance despite winning in Vancouver to close the road trip. Jeremy Swayman stood opposite him for the Bruins after earning a massive contract extension right before the season began.
The first period was a mess for everyone involved. The Hurricanes managed to get going early, opening the scoring on a Jack Roslovic goal during a delayed penalty. There wasn’t a Bruin in the vicinity, allowing Roslovic to get into the slot unaccounted for. However, the Hurricanes’ penalty kill would be on the ice for almost six minutes straight. Jesperi Kotkaniemi was assessed a double minor for high sticking and Jalen Chatfield would go to the box for interference. During the 5-on-3, Brad Marchand banked the puck off Jaccob Slavin’s knee and into the net.
Rod Brind’Amour wasn’t thrilled with the interference call, voicing his displeasure and getting a penalty for his troubles. The Hurricanes were looking down the barrel of another 5-on-3, but the kill stepped up and prevented further damage. The kill allowed the Canes to regain control of the game, leading to three goals in 52 seconds to close the period. Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas scored on the power play, while Jackson Blake sandwiched his goal between the man-advantage strikes to end the period up 4-1.
The Bruins showed a little fight early in the second period, getting a goal from Hampus Lindholm to get within two goals. This is as close as the game would get the rest of the night. Svechnikov and Roslovic each scored their second goal of the night 41 seconds apart. Svechnikov’s second tally came on the power play after a beautiful pass from Seth Jarvis, while Roslovic’s goal came after relentless forechecking from Jordan Martinook to create the turnover. With a 6-2 lead before the halfway point in the period, Swayman’s night was over.
The 6-2 advantage remained to begin the third period. The only objective for the final 20 minutes was to protect the lead. Not only did the Canes maintain their advantage, they added to it. Sean Walker jumped on a loose puck in the slot, lifting the puck past Joonas Korpisalo to kick the extra point and score his first for the Canes. Jesperi Kotkaniemi was rewarded for his incredible work to begin the season, snapping a shot into the net to make it 8-2, where the score would end after a dominant performance for the home team.
This was a thorough beatdown. There’s no other way to properly explain it. The Hurricanes, returning home after a long time on the road, wasted no time getting reacclimated to their home barn, pouring it on early. They were better than the Bruins in every facet, and at no point was that better exemplified than during their back-to-back 5-on-3 kills in the first period. While they allowed a fluky goal during the first sequence, the kill stood tall and paved the way for the power play to respond at the end of the period.
As has been the norm to begin the season, this was a total team effort on all fronts. The Hurricanes had 12 skaters find the scoresheet, five of whom had at least two points. Martin Necas led the way with four, three of which came on the power play. After scoring ten points in six games on the road trip, Necas showed no signs of slowing down on Thursday.
Pyotr Kochetkov’s final line won’t inspire much confidence for those who didn’t watch the game, but I struggle to find a major issue with his performance against the Bruins. Boston scored their goals because of a fluky bounce during a 5-on-3 and poor defensive coverage from the top-line wingers early in the second period. Otherwise, Kochetkov was good. He wasn’t as adventurous, nor did he need to be with Boston only managing 15 shots. I urge everyone not to read much into his save percentage.
This 8-2 win puts a bow on an incredible first month for the Hurricanes. At 7-2-0, it’s a far cry from where the team was at this point last season. The excellent road trip is a big reason for it. The special teams look like they are in midseason form. All four lines are clicking offensively, while all three defensive pairs have settled into their roles. Both goalies have been good, and Spencer Martin will enter the fold with Frederik Andersen on the shelf. All in all, it’s hard not to be happy with the Hurricanes’ start.
Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes will enter a grueling November slate on a five-game win streak. Beginning with the Washington Capitals on Sunday, the Canes will play 15 games in 28 days in November, including three sets of back-to-backs and another quick trip out west to Colorado, Vegas, and the first-ever trip to Utah. The Washington game will kick off three straight division games.
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