Lenovo Center Arena | Carolina Hurricanes
Lenovo Center Arena | Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes secured a decisive 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center, marking their seventh consecutive win. Mark Jankowski led the team with two goals, while Pyotr Kochetkov recorded a 26-save shutout.
Despite playing in Raleigh less than a day earlier, the Hurricanes took control early with a 2-0 lead after the first period. Sebastian Aho scored first, followed by Jankowski's goal. Taylor Hall extended the lead to three with a power-play goal early in the second period. Jankowski added another goal later in the period, and Scott Morrow sealed the win with his first NHL goal in the final minute.
Kochetkov's performance was his tenth career shutout and his fifth consecutive win. "Kooch was really good," said coach Rod Brind'Amour. "He made a few saves early in the game, especially in the first period."
Jankowski has been on an impressive streak since joining the Hurricanes on March 7, scoring four goals in four games. He commented on his performance: "I feel like it's just coming to me right now... Luckily, it's finding me right now, and I'm able to finish them."
Scott Morrow reflected on scoring his first NHL goal: "It was really cool... It's a big moment for me and my family."
The victory also saw contributions from rookies Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven, marking a significant achievement for Carolina's young players this season.
Shayne Gostisbehere reached a milestone of 300 career assists during the game. Sebastian Aho matched Ron Francis for most 25-goal seasons in franchise history with his first-period goal.
Brent Burns played his 910th consecutive game, tying Patrick Marleau for fifth-longest streak in NHL history.
Mark Jankowski expressed enthusiasm about the team's winning streak: "It's awesome... The vibes in the locker room, everyone's having a good time."
The Hurricanes will return to Raleigh before heading to San Jose for their next game on Thursday.