The Carolina Hurricanes continue to find answers as the regular season reaches its home stretch.
They’ll try to stay hot at home when the St. Louis Blues visit for Thursday night’s game in Raleigh, N.C.
Carolina now holds a nine-point lead atop the Metropolitan Division over second-place Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes beat the Penguins 5-4 in a shootout on Tuesday night to stretch their home-ice points streak to 12 games. That ties for the third-longest string in franchise history.
The Hurricanes rang up three straight goals to start the third period and take a 4-2 lead, only for the Penguins to rally and tie it late. Andrei Svechniknov and Jackson Blake registered shootout tallies, Blake’s standing up as the game-winner.
“He doesn’t feel pressure,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It doesn’t mean he’s going to score, but I know he’s going to try something. Obviously, it was a huge goal. (Svechnikov’s) goal was nice, too. Those guys will (get shootout opportunities) again.”
Mark Jankowski and Seth Jarvis scored 59 seconds apart to start Carolina’s third-period surge. Jarvis has compiled seven points (two goals, five assists) during a four-game points streak.
“When we get our identity going, we understand how we need to play,” Brind’Amour said. “I feel like sometimes we get off it a little. We try to do too much. Then, when we simplify our game, (quick-fire scoring) happens. You’re not always going to get those results, but the game certainly looks different from my perspective. We have been cashing in here lately.”
The Blues had their longest winning streak of the season end at four games with Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the visiting New York Islanders. Still, it’s a five-game points streak for St. Louis.
The Blues won 3-0 against the Hurricanes at home Jan. 13, courtesy of Joel Hofer’s 33 saves. St. Louis scored three second-period goals against Brandon Bussi, handing the rookie only his third regulation loss. Based on their recent rotation, the Hurricanes figure to have Bussi (25-4-1, 2.38 GAA) back in net for Thursday’s rematch.
The Blues are adjusting to some new personnel. Defenseman Theo Lindstein made his NHL debut Tuesday.
“I felt good out there,” Lindstein said. “Everyone up here is much better. … You have to think faster.”
Jimmy Snuggerud of the Blues has a three-game, multi-point streak with three goals and four assists during that stretch. He’s part of a productive line for St. Louis with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway.
“Every time out there, they’re looking to create something and they are,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said.
Thomas, who has a seven-game points streak, was dealing with a slight upper-body injury that occurred Tuesday. It’s something that Montgomery said he should be able to play through.
Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin set the franchise goals record for a rookie defenseman with his ninth in the Pittsburgh game. Brind’Amour would like to see him increase the volume of his shots.
“He’s always had that confidence,” Brind’Amour said. “We know he’s got that big shot. … He needs to just keep shooting that thing. We’ll keep on him with that. His game is growing.”
