Hurricanes 5, Wild 1: The Turbo Show

RALEIGH — The Carolina Hurricanes earned a desperately needed win as they downed the Minnesota Wild in front of an energetic PNC Arena led by a dominant three point night from Teuvo Teravainen.

Despite a packed building with a lot of buzz, the game started out on a bit of a flat note. Things finally picked up just over the halfway mark in the first when Anthony Bitetto earned an interference infraction after jumping in the way of a forechecking Justin Williams, who went tumbling into the boards. The Canes were finally able to pick up some momentum during the man advantage as they peppered the net with shots, but ultimately couldn’t bury one.

The offensive onslaught continued for the next few minutes but they still couldn’t squeeze one by Devon Dubnyk. A few minutes later, Andrei Svechnikov capitalized on a lazy stretch pass and earned a breakaway, but Dubnyk was not buying what the rookie was selling. It was starting to feel like one of those games.

Fortunately, the feeling didn't last. The second period started out with a bang as Teuvo Teravainen facilitated a pretty give-and-go with Justin Faulk at the point. Faulk snapped one on net as Jordan Staal screened Dubnyk. Jordan was rewarded for his hard work as the puck deflected in off is leg for his 9th goal of the season. It was exactly what the Hurricanes needed — a greasy goal. And with that, they were off to the races.

Just two minutes later the Hurricanes stretched the lead to two goals when Aho pushed the puck into the zone and laid it off to Williams, who quickly snapped the puck over to an unmarked Brett Pesce. The defenseman streaked into the high slot and snapped a shot that beat Dubnyk to the far side that would mark Williams’ 300th point in a Carolina uniform. The best part about the goal? Pesce’s parents were sitting at the glass to see it.

But it would only take Eric Staal six minutes to respond to his brother’s gauntlet when he received a pass low on the half boards on the man advantage and snapped a quick wrist shot that found its way through Mrazek’s pads. 2-1 Wild.

As the third period started it felt like the Hurricanes really needed to get on the board against a desperate Minnesota team. Teuvo Teravainen answered the call once again in this game when he made a beautiful play to slip through the defense and push a pass to the crashing Andrei Svechnikov. The young Russian did what he does best as he rifled one past Dubnyk’s blocker. 3-1 Hurricanes. That play doesn’t happen without a goal scoring talent like Svechnikov, but he wouldn’t have seen the opportunity if it wasn’t for the incredible set up from Teravainen.

Speaking of pretty set up plays — just a few minutes later Micheal Ferland one-upped Teravainen when as he possessed the puck along the half boards and quickly snapped a feed through traffic to Lucas Wallmark, who made no mistake. 4-1 Hurricanes.

But Teravainen quickly reclaimed the spotlight as he intercepted a breakout pass then streaked in on Dubnyk, quickly depositing the puck at the far post for his third point of the game and earning himself first star of the game honors. The Hurricanes took two points from the Wild in a landslide 5-1 win.