Recap: Hurricanes dismantle Jets as Svechnikov scores another lacrosse goal

Andrei Svechnikov did it again.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ second-year forward scored a lacrosse-style goal for the second time this season, as the Canes beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-3 at Bell MTS Place Tuesday night. Svechnikov’s stunning goal was part of a huge four-goal second period for the Canes, which also featured two goals and an assist from Sebastian Aho.

Aho and Svechnikov weren’t the only two Canes that were on their best game Tuesday, as Hurricanes’ captain Jordan Staal tallied twice for his first multi-goal game of the season. Staal was busy all night, putting a career-high 10 shots on goal, and Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton also had a productive night, collecting three assists.

Petr Mrazek was solid throughout the evening in net for the Canes, stopping 30 of 33 shots faced. Two of the three goals that made their way past Mrazek were on deflections, as the Hurricanes’ netminder put in another great performance.

For Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck started in net, but only lasted two periods after giving up five goals on 23 shots faced. Laurent Brossoit came in to relieve Hellebuyck to start the third period, stopping 4 of 5 shots in his one period.

Mrazek was particularly keyed in during the opening period, making a couple of great saves to stifle good chances for the Jets. The Canes committed the first penalty of the game, as defenseman Jake Gardiner went to the box for holding a little over midway through the first. Mrazek proved to be the Canes’ best penalty killer, shutting down Winnipeg during the man advantage.

Carolina opened up the scoring as the first period was drawing to a close, as Lucas Wallmark tallied his fifth goal of the season on a power play. Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey went to the box for clearing the puck over the glass, and Wallmark and the Canes made the Jets pay.

Forward Nino Niedereiter made a good move with the puck in front of the crease, but lost the puck at the end of his spin. The puck fell perfectly to Wallmark, who calmly finished the game’s opening goal.

Carolina’s lead didn’t last long, as Jack Roslovic placed a perfect tip-in past Mrazek with eight seconds left in the first period. Nikolaj Ehlers fired a shot towards net from the blue line, and Roslovic made a beautiful play to tip it in and tie the game up.

The Hurricanes came out of the first intermission buzzing, and it paid off just over eight minutes into the second frame as Aho scored his 19th of the year to put the Canes up 2-1. Teravainen made things happen with an unbelievable pass, firing across the offensive zone after a quick spin near the boards.

The beautiful pass split defenders to find Aho, who finished off the great team goal past Hellebuyck. Aho immediately pointed the credit towards Teravainen, clearly impressed by the fantastic pass from his countryman and teammate.

However, the Canes again couldn’t hold onto the lead for long, as another tip-in for Winnipeg tied the game at 2-2. After it appeared the Jets could have been called for icing but weren’t, the Canes turned it over leading to a point shot from Nathan Beaulieu. Patrik Laine got his stick up to the puck to redirect it past Mrazek, as the Jets again quickly answered a Carolina goal.

Carolina answered less than a minute later though, as Svechnikov did what only he can do. He scooped the puck up behind the net and flung it in past Hellebuyck to put Carolina up 3-2.

The Hurricanes still weren’t done in the second period, as Aho slotted a breakaway chance through Hellebuyck’s five hole to double the Canes lead three and a half minutes later. Aho received a pass from Niederreiter with his skate, kicking it to his stick to set up the backhanded finish.

Carolina’s fourth goal of the second period came from captain Jordan Staal, as the Canes showcased some great passing on the power play to beat Hellebuyck and make it 5-2. Dougie Hamilton fired to Aho in the circle, who slotted a great pass to Staal in front of the crease. Staal battled for a second before pushing the puck into the net.

Staal made it 6-2 early in the third period, firing a good wrister past the new man in net for Winnipeg. Hamilton rifled a shot wide of the net, and the rebound made its way to Staal, who proceeded to net his second goal of the night.

Winnipeg scored to make it 6-3 in the second half of the final period, with Mark Scheifele tallying a power-play goal following a slash by Aho, but they could get no closer despite Jets coach Paul Maurice pulling Brossoit for the extra attacker with three minutes remaining..

The Hurricanes will wrap up their five-game road trip Thursday night in Colorado, looking to pick up points in all five games of the western swing.