Canes Corner

Pyotr Kochetkov shut out the Rangers on 25 saves, Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal with the Hurricanes and they turned the lights out on the home team at Madison Square Garden.  Carolina scored once on the power play in three tries and shut out the Rangers on all three of their tries.  New York had just 1 shot on goal in the 3rd period as the Canes outshot them 31-25.  Alexander Nikishin and Sean Walker led a full team effort on the blue line.

The Canes could not get their offense going in a 2-1 loss to the Bruins.  Alexander Nikishin scored Carolina's only goal and two early third period goals by Boston pushed the Hurricanes to their 4th loss in their last 6 games.  The bright side was continued strong play from Nikishin and Andrei Svechnikov as well as the fact that Seth Jarvis was able to play.  Among the topics within is a discussion about how to handle three healthy goaltenders now that Pyotr Kochetkov has been activated and sent out on a conditioning stint.

Brandon Bussi's 1st start on home ice was a good one as he made 26 saves in a Canes 6-2 win over the Islanders.  He did most of his best work in a 14-save first period as the Hurricanes took a 3-1 lead on goals from Bradly Nadeau, Mike Reilly and Jordan Martinook.  For Nadeau, it was his first NHL goal and showed off his super fast release.  Jackson Blake, Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven finished out the scoring in the 3rd period with Blake's goal coming early and pushing the Carolina lead to 4-1.  Svechnikov now has goals in consecutive games after going the first 8 without a point.  The only downside to the game was a potential injury to Seth Jarvis who went down to block a shot pretty late in the 3rd period and took a puck off the left heel.  The Hurricanes are already down 5 regular players including Jaccob Slavin.  They don't want to be without Jarvis.  

Carolina's first game at home after a 6-game road trip was a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.  The Hurricanes scored first, as Andrei Svechnikov scored for the first time this season.  But Vegas took the game over from there, scoring twice to claim a 2-1 lead after the first period.  Still, on goals by Jordan Martinook and Logan Stankoven the Canes somehow held a 3-2 lead early in the 3rd.  However, mistakes with the puck and on the blue line were Carolina's downfall as the Golden Knights scored the last four goals of the game to sweep the season series from the Hurricanes.  Shayne Gostisbehere left the game with an injury -- for the second time in as many games -- though head coach Rod Brind'Amour did say that it was unrelated to the last time, when he left the game in Los Angeles against the Kings.  Rookie Defenseman Joel Nystrom took a puck to the face in the 2nd period, left the game but returned in a full face cage and played the 3rd period.

Freddie Andersen's 44 saves -- plus the 3 in the shootout -- carry the Hurricanes to a 5-4 win in Colorado.  The Canes started the game down ANOTHER defenseman as K'Andre Miller was unable to play due to a lower body injury.  And without Jaccob Slavin and Shayne Gostisbehere, that meant that three rookie defensemen would have to play against the Avs.  Joel Nystrom, Charles-Alexis Legault and Alexander Nikishin combined for about 45 minutes on the ice in the win.  And the injury bug bit the Canes during the game as well as Will Carrier (lower body) and Eric Robinson (upper body) each left the game and didn't return.  Rod Brind'Amour offered that neither issue was minor and their absences would be lengthy.  Seth Jarvis' 7th goal came shorthanded, he also assisted on Sebastian Aho's 3rd of the season and scored the lone goal in the shootout.  Both he and Aho have at least one point in every game this season.  Andersen made all three saves in the shootout for the win.

Carolina fell behind early and went on to lose to the Golden Knights, 4-1.  Two first period goals by Vegas were enough for the home team as the Hurricanes suffer their first loss of the season.  Sebastian Aho's 2nd goal of the year got them within one early in the 2nd period.  But, Ivan Barbashev stole the puck from K'Andre Miller in the middle of the third period and scored past Freddie Andersen for the insurance goal that put this one away.  The Carolina power play went 0 for 4, but the penalty kill was perfect, so it was a special teams wash.

Seth Jarvis' 6th goal of the season gave the Canes a 4-3 overtime win in Los Angeles.  It was his 2nd OT game-winner of the season and his 4th game-winning goal of the year.  The Canes have only played five game!  Jordan Staal scored twice and won 20 of his 22 face offs as he continues his incredible start to the season.  K'Andre Miller and Sean Walker carried the Hurricanes blue line.  Miller had a pair of assists, was a +2, had two takeaways and blocked a shot in 27:36 (!!!).  Walker played 26:03 steady minutes and had 10 shot attempts on the night.  The only real bad news -- other than the power play struggled again tonight, including over a 1:25 stretch of 5-on-3 play -- was the fact that Shayne Gostisbehere left the game late in the 1st period with a lower body injury.  

Seth Jarvis scored twice -- the first of which was the 100th of his career -- and Alexander Nikishin registered his first ever NHL goal as the Canes ran their record to 4-0 with a 4-1 win in Anaheim.  Jarvis scored the game's first two goals, the second coming on the power play.  Alexander Nikishin's first came off a great backhand pass from Sebastian Aho and gave the Canes a 2-goal lead.  Aho finished off the scoring banging in a rebound after a Jarvis steal in the offensive end.  Shayne Gostisbehere had 3 more assists and now has points in every game this year -- as does Jarvis -- and is tied for the team lead in points with Seth.  Freddie Andersen, who was excellent when called upon, had 23 saves in the win.  

Brandon Bussi's NHL debut will be a night he'll never forget.  Spent the better part of the first 30 minutes making save after save after save and allowing the Canes the chance to find their game.  When the Canes did, look out.  Sean Walker, Will Carrier and Eric Robinson all scored in the second period.  Shayne Gostisbehere and Jackson Blake tallied in the 3rd and the Canes held San Jose without a shot on goal in the final period.  Jaccob Slavin did not play and will almost certainly not appear in any of the remaining 5 games on this road trip.  But, Walker, K'Andre Miller, Gostisbehere and Alexander Nikishin were excellent in the win.

The Canes won their second straight game to open the season, beating the Flyers 4-3 in overtime.  Seth Jarvis scored the game-winner with 16.7 seconds left on the clock -- and 36.1 seconds after Philadelphia's Bobby Brink had his goal disallowed due to goaltender interference.  Jarvis' 3rd goal of the year was the 99th of his career.  Jordan Staal is also nearing a milestone as his late 2nd period goal was the 299th of his impressive career.  Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall also scored in the win.  The only downside to tghe game -- other than a general sloppiness in the way the Canes managed the puck -- was that Jaccob Slavin didn't finish the game and played just 16:48, tied for the lowest on the blue line.  K'Andre Miller led the Canes with 25:54 of TOI.

K'Andre Miller and Seth Jarvis each scored twice as the Canes beat the Devils 6-3 on opening night in Raleigh.  The new guys played well.  The "old" guys did, too, as Sebastian Aho led the way in the 3rd period.  Miller was noticeably good all night long and gave fans a glimpse of how he could thrive playing here.  Equally important was the way Alexander Nikishin played while paired with Shayne Gostisbehere.  It was also a good night for the Jesperi Kotkaniemi line as the Hurricanes used their depth to beat New Jersey.  Oh, and there were at least five ringing posts.  So many posts.  

The Canes lost the preseason finale in overtime -- during which Andrei Svechnikov absorbed a huge check from Nashville's Joakim Kemell.  Jordan Martinook and Seth Jarvis scored and Pyotr Kochetkov kept the Canes in the game with a stellar 3rd period.  We also delve into Bradly Nadeau and the fact that the Hurricanes will NOT be signing Michael McLeod.

Bradly Nadeau scored for the 3rd straight game -- actually he didn't because the goal didn't count due to the play being ruled offside.  But, we saw the play and it was one of those goals that makes you think that the kid could make the team.  It's at least worth a conversation.  

Canes Corner is presented by The Aluminum Company of North Carolina.

Bradly Nadeau scored twice and Jackson Blake chipped in with a pair of assists as the Canes won their first game of the preseason, 4-2, over the Nashville Predators.  The goals give Nadeau -- the team's 1st round pick in the 2023 draft -- 3 in the exhibition season as he continues to try to convince the coaching staff that he's ready for the big leagues.  Felix Unger Sorum, Carolina's second rounder that same year, also scored in the win.  He finished off a great Eric Robinson rush tapping home a beautiful pass that tied the game at 1-1 in the 1st period.  Charles Alexis Legault, a 5th round pick that same year, closed out the scoring with his first goal of the preseason as he makes his own case for the big club.  

It wasn't necessarily well-played, but it was entertaining.  Carolina lost 6-5 to the Lightning and fell to 0-3-0 in the preseason.  Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored his second goal in as many games, Givani Smith scored his first goal of the preseason and Kevin Lebanc added an assist in his third straight game in the loss.  

"Good thing the game doesn't count", was how Rod Brind'Amour summed up the 4-2 loss to the Panthers.  "Well, we learned how not to play", was what Sebastian Aho said.  But, for 40 minutes the Canes dominated the Panthers and it's best that we just talk about that.  So, let's do that.

It was just the preseason opener, but there were things worth seeing in the Canes' 2-1 loss to the Lightning.  Logan Stankoven played center, fairly well, and scored the lone Hurricanes goal.  Jackson Blake was his normal self.  Alexander Nikishin showed physicality and a multi-faceted game that is sure to make the head coach happy -- though there is a ton of room for him to get better.  There was enough to like and enough to correct before Wednesday's game with Florida.

Lots to look forward to as the Canes open the preseason against Tampa Bay.  Logan Stankoven will play center against the Lightning.  Plus, we'll see Alexander Nikishin, Bradly Nadeau and Charles-Alexis Legault in prominant roles.  

The Metropolitan Division has to have three playoff teams.  Last year, the Capitals had a magical season and finished top of the pile.  Will they repeat?  Will the Rangers bounce back?  Or will it be someone else that emerges to join -- presumably -- the Hurricanes and Devils?

From Captain Jordan Staal to Logan Stankoven, the Canes hope to be the center of attention in the Metropolitan Division.  And, reports have the Canes also lined up to add Michael McLeod to the group.  Yes, the same Michael McLeod that was the point person in that explosive trial in London, Ontario in which he and four other members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior Hockey gold medal-winning team were acquitted of sexual assault.  

Who might be the surprise Canes player to emerge in training camp?  Is there one?

So many people think the Hurricanes need a top ten goalie to win the cup.  But, what if I told you that wasn't true at all.  AND, the Hurricanes arguably already have one in Frederik Andersen?  

This is part two of a seven-part pre-season series.

Five former Hockey Canada players were recently found not guilty of sexual assault in an incident that allegedly happened in Ontario in 2018. Carter Hart, Micheal McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were acquitted in July 2025. The five players are eligible to sign NHL contracts in October.

Would the Carolina Hurricanes be interested in signing them? Adam discusses the two players who might have peaked the Canes' interest.

This is part one of a seven-part preseason series. Adam Gold digs into seven big issues heading to the start of the Canes preseason schedule.

Canes Corner is presented by The Aluminum Company of North Carolina.

Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour joins Adam Gold for a Canes Corner episode that goes beyond the ice. Rod talks about his approach to coaching and building a competitive team, from the inside story on how line combinations and player decisions really get made, to leadership in the locker room.

He shares his thoughts on the hall of fame, NIL and college athletes, favorite movies, binge-worthy TV, and the pride he feels watching his son chase the NHL dream.

With one month left before camp opens, we take a look at two big contract signings, how the team addresses the 2nd center position and whether or not they've closed the gap on the Panthers.  With Cory Lavalette (North State Journal) and Matthew Somma (Matt's Substack)