Rachel Barkley
Nothing comes easily, and this season, the Eastern Conference has proven that. With 102 points in the standings, the Carolina Hurricanes became the first team in the East to clinch a playoff spot this season in a thrilling 5-1 win over their Metropolitan Division rival, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
They wasted no time in their push to lock their spot in the postseason, as Logan Stankoven found himself on hat-trick watch before even 10 minutes had passed. His first goal, just 2:27 in, was a tip-in on K’Andre Miller’s shot, while with his second goal, he swept in the loose change that Taylor Hall had left.
A few moments later on the penalty kill, Alexander Nikishin – with help from the usual suspects, Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho – got his first career NHL shorthanded goal. The disadvantaged score tied the Hurricanes with the Calgary Flames for most shorthanded goals this season, with 11.
Down three-to-nothing in the second frame, the Blue Jackets got on the board as Denton Mateychuk put the puck through the five-hole of Frederik Andersen, but the Hurricanes reclaimed their breathing room just 13 seconds later thanks to a shot from the point by Jordan Martinook.
In the third period, a Blue Jackets power play was cut short. As four-on-four hockey came to a close and the Hurricanes’ power play began, Shayne Gostisbehere dashed out of the penalty box and immediately contributed to another goal, one-touching a pass from Aho and sending it to Andrei Svechnikov, who snapped it past Elvis Merzlikins from the right face-off circle – the final goal of the game.
‘The Work Doesn’t Stop Now’
Throughout the match, the Hurricanes held onto the momentum they had claimed, and let that drive their offense into smothering the Blue Jackets – dominating zone time and forcing Columbus to spend energy in their own zone. Carolina only allowed 10 shots on goal from the Blue Jackets, tying the fewest in franchise history for the Hurricanes.
“I think our start was huge,” Stankoven said after the game. “We know a lot of these teams that are playing down the stretch here are hungry for points and trying to get into the playoffs, so I think, just mentally, we came prepared, and it worked out well for us.”
“I think our group in there, we don’t take the playoffs for granted – it’s so hard to battle and to get into the playoffs. So, we’re really grateful, but the work doesn’t stop now.”
Hurricanes Notes
Thursday’s game was the 1,400th that the Hurricanes’ captain, Jordan Staal, has suited up for in his 20-season career. 968 of them have been played with Carolina, while 431 were with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he won a Stanley Cup. During the first period, he received a standing ovation from the fans in the stands.
Nikishin’s shorthanded goal was his 30th point of the season, which tied him with Jamie McBain for the most points by a rookie defenseman in Hurricanes history, and put him second in the franchise tally, just five points behind Brad Shaw.
The Hurricanes have made playoff appearances in all eight seasons that Rod Brind’Amour has served as head coach. Only the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs have longer active streaks (though the Leafs remain out of the hunt at this time).
