Canes Corner

Jordan Staal's game-winning goal, with just more than 5 minutes to play helped the Canes to a 4-3 win over Ottawa as they extend their points streak to 9 straight games (7-0-2).  Staal's 14th of the season was the 8th time that Staal has given Carolina the lead with a goal.  Seth Jarvis scored twice, Sebastian Aho added a goal and 2 assists, and Brandon Bussi won for the 22nd time in 26 NHL starts.  It was another game in which the Hurricanes weren't necessarily the better team, though Carolina definitely played well and with a lot of energy.  The Canes have just one more game -- Thursday at Madison Square Garden -- before the Olympic break.

Sebastian Aho's overtime goal, 1:25 into the 3-on-3 session, gave the Canes a 3-2 win over the Kings, extending their points streak to 8 straight games (6-0-2).  One night after leading 3-0 only to lose in overtime, Carolina led 2-0 with just over 7 minutes to play.  But, the Kings capitalized on a Hurricanes mistake 24 seconds later to cut the lead in half and drew even with 3:11 to play and we were headed beyond regulation for the 2nd straight night -- and the 3rd time in the last 5 games.  This time, however, Sebastian Aho did what he seemingly always does, he won the game, beating Anton Forsberg just inside the left post for his 19th goal of the season.  Brandon Bussi made 11 saves for his 21st win in 25 starts.  Jordan Staal and Alexander Nikishin also scored for the Canes who are 10-1-3 in their last 14 games.

How should the headline read?  The Canes blow a 3-0 lead and lose, 4-3, in overtime?  Or, the Canes stole a point in their OT loss in Washington?  Because both of those things are essentially true.  According to head coach Rod Brind'Amour his team was as bad as he can recall in a 60-minute game.  And, statistically speaking, he was not wrong.  Carolina was dominated in every area of the game -- other than goaltending -- in the loss.  Only Frederik Andersen, who made 38 saves on the night, drew praise from the head coach.  Andersen stopped 19 shots in the 1st period and another 19 the rest of the way as his team spent far too much time defending on the night.  Mark Jankowski, Sebastian Aho and Shayne Gostisbehere each scored in the loss.  

Brandon Bussi made 34 saves to win his 19th game of the season as the Hurricanes beat the Senators, 4-1.  Bussi's victory helps to continue a record breaking start to his career.  No NHL goalie has ever won 19 of his first 23 starts.  In Bussi's 23 starts he's allowed 4 or more goals just twice and 8 times -- including the last three -- he's allowed 1 or fewer goals.  Carolina wasn't very good in the win, but they managed to score 3 times in the first period as William Carrier, Seth Jarvis and Taylor Hall staked the Canes to the big lead.  Andrei Svechnikov's 18th of the season, on the power play, made it 4-0 early in the 2nd period.  

The Canes lost to the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, in a shootout on a night when the power play -- which had been excellent of late -- went 0 for 5 and conceded a shorthanded goal.  Joel Nystrom scored his first NHL goal and was joined on the scoresheet by Jordan Staal and Jackson Blake in the loss.  One thing Carolina did well on Thursday was bounce back.  They never led in the game, but each time Chicago scored the Canes seemed to get the game back even quickly.  Alexander Nikishin took part in his first NHL fight as Chicago's Oliver Moore challenged him after a clean hit on Rick Lardis in the second period.  Nikishin didn't appear interested in fighting, but ended the bout quickly as Moore was knocked to the ice in 3 punches.  Moore would have the last say, however, as it was his shootout conversion ended the game in the 6th round and gave Chicago the bonus point.

Brandon Bussi only had to make 17 saves.  But, you ask Buffalo's Tage Thompson if Carolina's goalie played well.  Thompson, a 25 goal scorer already this year, easily could have had a hat trick against the Canes were it not for Bussi.  One save was so amazing, the game broadcasters -- both local and national -- assumed that a goal had been scored.  It was THAT good.  Andrei Svechnikov scored for the 3rd straight game and Seth Jarvis' power play goal, 2 minutes into the 3rd period, was the game winner.  

What a 27 hours for the Canes!  One night after they tarred and feathered the Florida Panthers, 9-1, Carolina rode the goaltending of Frederik Andersen and an Andrei Svechnikov hat trick for a 4-1 win in Newark.  Andersen made 28 saves, with most of the toughest ones coming early as the Hurricanes struggled to get into the game after the emotions of Friday night's blowout.  But, Andersen kept them level and then Svechnikov scored twice in 58 seconds late in the 2nd to stake Carolina to the lead.  Timo Meier's power play goal cut the lead in half, but Jackson Blake's 15th of the year restored the 2-goal lead and Svechnikov completed the hat trick for the final margin.  

Nine goals.  Nine goals.  The Carolina Hurricanes hung 9 goals around Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers.  Nikolaj Ehlers, who now has 11 goals in 18 career games against Florida, picked up his first hat trick with the Hurricanes (6th of his career), as Carolina scored 6 times in the 3rd period in the 9-1 win.  While nothing really can erase the sting of blowing a combined lead of 5-0 in the first two meetings between these two teams, Carolina extending the lead over and over and over again in the 3rd period will at least prove to themselves that they have put that part of their season behind them.  Taylor Hall scored twice, while Andrei Svechnikov, Eric Robinson, Mark Jankowski and Alexander Nikishin each added goals of their own.  Carolina now has an NHL-best 9 players with 10+ goals on the season.  Brandon Bussi made 15 saves for his 17th win of the year.  The Canes were 4 for 5 on the power play and a perfect 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.

The Hurricanes were shut out for the first time this season, 3-0, in St Louis.  Carolina's 5-game point streak came to an end on a night when they looked unwilling to play their game.  Brandon Bussi allowed 3 goals on 31 shots in the loss with all three coming in the 2nd period where the Blues skated circles around Carolina.  Before the game, St Louis was -- based on goal differential -- the worst 2nd period team in the NHL at -25.  They were +3 in the 2nd tonight.

Two ways to look at the Canes' 4-3 (OT) loss to the Red Wings.  Great, you rallied with 3 goals in the 3rd period to force overtime so you feel happy with the result.  Disappointed that you gave the puck away twice and they led to Detroit goals.  Angry, because two really awful -- and very easily-called -- penalties went uncalled with the second one resulting in the game-winner from Andrew Copp.

The Canes fell behind, 2-1, in the third period, but the Captain's line produced a pair of goals as Carolina rallied to beat Seattle, 3-2.  The win was the 4th straight for the Canes, who maintain a 4-point lead over the Islanders in the Metropolitan division.  Jaccob Slavin made his return to the lineup after missing the last 10 games.  In all, Slavin has played in just 6 of the Hurricanes' first 45 games.  Logan Stankoven's 1st period goal got the Hurricanes in front of the game.  The goal was his 10th of the season and 4th in as many games.  K'Andre Miller's steal inside the blue line started the play and then the brand new Hurricanes defender made a great pass to Stankoven in the slot.  Seattle's Matty Beniers would make a great move around Slavin for a first period tying goal.  Brandon Bussi turned the puck over leading to the Kraken's 3rd period goal that put them in front, 2-1.  But, Jordan Staal set up both 3rd period goals, the first from Jordan Martinook and the second was credited to Will Carrier as Slavin's shot hit Will on the way into the Seattle net.

Freddie Andersen made 11 saves in his first win since November 6 as the Hurricanes won their 3rd straight game, 5-2, over the Ducks.  Mark Jankowski scored in the 2nd period to tie the game at 1-1, but it was arguably the most important play of the entire night.  The Hurricanes were flat until jankowski's goal and then they took control of the game.  Logan Stankoven, Jalen Chatfield and Jackson Blake each scored and Taylor Hall -- who's patience created Stankoven's 3rd goal in as many games -- put one into the empty net for the final marker.  It wasn't pretty, but it was gritty and the Canes got what they deserved.

K'Andre Miller scored twice, Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers combeind for 7 assists and Seth Jarvis made an energizing return to the lineup as the Canes blasted the Stars, 6-3.  Carolina celebrated Star Wars night in style.  Miller scored twice, the first time since opening night -- when he also bagged a brace -- that he found the back of the net.  Shayne Gostisbehere and Will Carrier also scored and Brandon Bussi won for the 15th time in 18 starts.  

Brandon Bussi stopped 28 shots and Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist as the Hurricanes snapped their 3-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the Devils in Newark.  Nikolaj Ehlers scored in the opening minute as his slight deflection of a Sean Walker point shot led to a rebound and a Luke Hughes own goal.  Hughes would also give up the puck to Hall for his 7th goal of the year, a forechecking classic as Hall knocked the puck off Hughes' stick and it slid past Jake Allen into the net for a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period.  Hall added to his night forcing a turnover behind the New Jersey goal and getting the puck to Logan Stankoven in front for his 7th goal of the season -- and first in 11 games.  Best thing we saw, though, was Brandon Bussi bouncing back in a very solid, and quiet but stellar performance in the Carolina goal.  

For the 5th time in their last 8 games the Canes coughed up a multi-goal lead.  The Canes entered the 3rd period with a 3-1 lead, but Colorado scored twice in the first two minutes of the period and went on to win their 10th straight.  Carolina lost for the 3rd straight time.  Sebastian Aho, Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrei Svechnikov each scored -- the second straight game that's happened -- and Aho now has 16 points in his last 9 games -- but Svechnikov and Ehlers each committed 3rd period penalties that led to Colorado power play goals and ultimately equalled a Carolina loss.  Frederik Andersen made 29 saves in a very good performance between the pipes.

The Hurricanes lost the first game of 2026, a 7-5 gong show of a game against the Canadiens.  Carolina trailed 2-0 early, then fought back to take a 4-2 lead before giving up the next 4 goals through a series of turnovers and poor goaltending.  It was the first home loss for Brandon Bussi, the second straight loss for the Hurricanes, and it comes as the next game will be against the Colorado Avalanche.  Sebastian Aho had 2 goals and 3 assists on the night, his second career 5-point effort.  Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers each had a goal and two assists and Alexander Nikishin had a goal and an assist.  But Bussi allowed 6 goals and made just 16 saves on the night.  Now we'll see how he reacts to his first poor NHL start.

Frederik Andersen was every bit as good as the team that played in front of him against the Penguins.  That's to say he was bad as Pittsburgh beat Carolina 5-1 to close out the 2025 portion of the schedule.  Andersen allowed 5 goals in the first two periods, and the Hurricanes couldn't muster a response until Mark Jankowski's second goal of the season late in the 2nd.  Andersen hasn't won a game since a 4-3 shootout win over the Wild on November 6, and in his 8-game losing streak (0-6-2) he carries a save percentage of .832.  What are Carolina's options in net after Brandon Bussi?  

Jackson Blake's first career overtime game-winner gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 win over the Rangers on Monday night.  Blake's goal came on the power play -- the second power play goal of the game -- and helped get Brandon Bussi his 13th win of the season.  Bussi, who wasn't the scheduled starter, but was pressed into action when Pyotr Kochetkov was placed on injured reserve after it was announced that he would undergo surgery on his hip and would likely miss the rest of the season.  Brandon made 18 saves on the night.  Sebastian Aho scored his 14th goal of the season, a 1st period power play goal that tied the score at 1.  Jordan Martinook's 6th of the year, with a little more than 10 minutes to play in the 3rd period helped get the game into OT.  The Hurricanes were also without Shayne Gostisbehere against New York as he missed the game with a lower body injury.

The Hurricanes played 60 minutes of excellent hockey in a 5-2 win over the Red Wings.  Andrei Svechnikov and Shayne Gostisbehere each had a goal and two assists and Brandon Bussi won for the 12th time in 14 starts.  Carolina dominated the first period in every measurable way other than the scoreboard.  Michael Rasmussen's 5th goal of the season gave Detroit a 1-0 lead as the Canes did everything but score on John Gibson in the 1st.  But Jackson Blake and Eric Robinson scored 1:15 apart in the early part of the 2nd to put the Hurricanes in front to stay.  Gostisbehere would make it 3-1 with a little more than 4 1/2 minutes left in the period and Svechnikov's 10th goal of the season -- and 3rd in as many games -- made it 4-2 with about 7 minutes to play.  Jordan Martinook scored into an empty net for the final margin.  

The Canes finished off a hat trick of blown leads as they closed out the pre-Christmas schedule with a 5-2 loss to the Panthers.  They led 3-0 with 10 minutes to play on Friday night in South Florida before losing in a shootout.  The next night in Tampa they scored 3 times in the 1st period only to give it all back in the 2nd en route to a 6-4 loss to the Lightning.  Tonight, they took a 2-0 lead into the 3rd period only to see the Panthers erase that in 7 minutes.  Florida scored three times in a 3:07 span and with 13 minutes remaining, it was 3-2 and the Canes flatlined.   Frederik Andersen lost his 7th straight start and hasn't allowed fewer than 3 goals since November 1st.  His save percentage is .869, .024 under the league average.  

The Canes scored 3 times in the 1st period, but like the night before in Florida, they could not hold the 3-goal lead.  Pyotr Kochetkov was great over the first two periods, but he wasn't in the 3rd and the Hurricanes weren't good enough to carry him through it like he'd done for them most nights.  

The Canes had a 3-0 lead with 10 minutes to play and a 2-goal advantage with under 2 1/2 minutes left.  But, the Panthers taught Carolina a lesson about playoff hockey in December, rallying with Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart goals to force overtime.  They would eventually win the game in a shootout.  Jordan Staal scored his 10th goal of the season and Sebastian Aho had 2 goals for the second straight game as the Hurricanes built that 3-goal lead.  But, Brad Marchand went into his bag of tricks, whacking Brandon Bussi in the jewels before scoring over top of him for a 3-1 score with just under 10 minutes remaining.  The Hurricanes gave up an astounding 24 high danger chances to the Panthers in the loss.  Bussi did make 38 saves, but his 9 game winning streak came to an end.  

Sebastian Aho had his first 2-goal, 3-point night of the season, Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 25 shots -- 14 in the 3rd period -- and Jaccob Slavin looked like his old self as the Canes beat the Predators, 4-1 in Nashville.  Carolina sweeps the 2-game season series having won the first one earlier this month in Raleigh.  Aho's 10th goal, on the power play, early in the 3rd period doubled the lead to 2-0.  Then he set up Seth Jarvis for his 19th of the year to make it 3-0, before icing the game with an empty net goal with 45 seconds left in the 3rd.  Jackson Blake was stellar again.  He had the game's first goal, in the 1st period, banging home a rebound of Logan Stankoven's shot.  And, Blake also had the primary assist on Aho's power play goal.  The Canes have won 5 straight and lead the Metro by 5 points.

For the third straight game the Hurricanes won in the shootout.  Brandon Bussi was the story -- again.  He's now 11-1-0 on the season.  William Carrier and Taylor Hall each scored goals for the Canes and Andrei Svechnikov recorded the game deciding goal in the shootout.  It's the first time in franchise history that they've won three straight games via the shootout.  

Jackson Blake notched his first career shootout goal, a game-decider, as the Hurricanes beat the Flyers, 4-3.  The Canes spotted Philly a 2-0 lead after 1, but goals by Nikalaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin brought Carolina level.  Seth Jarvis' breakaway goal in the 3rd gave them the lead.  Eventually the game went into overtime and then the shootout.  Pyotr Kochetkov would stop all 4 tries including a poke check off the stick of Bobby Brink before Blake's forehand-backhand-forehand move beat Samuel Ersson for the game winner.  Kochetkov is now 5-1-0 on the season and 6-1-0 in his career against the Flyers.