"A Golden (K)Night in Raleighwood": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 46: Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights

The Hurricanes started the holiday weekend with their only game as they hosted the Vegas Golden Knights. Coming off an unacceptable performance against the Sabres on Wednesday, the Canes could ill afford to go down the same path with one of the best teams in the Western Conference across from them. The big news before the game was Frederik Andersen being on the bench after being activated off IR. While he wasn't in the net, it was welcome news as the Canes inch closer to being at full strength. As they try to navigate the second half of the season, the healthier the better. 

Scoring Summary

1st Period

None

2nd Period

VGK (4:22)- Tomas Hertl (13) (Alex Pietrangelo (19) & Victor Olofsson (8))

CAR (11:57)- Seth Jarvis (14) (Jordan Martinook (13) & Jaccob Slavin (12))

3rd Period

CAR (0:46)- Jackson Blake (10) (Andrei Svechnikov (18) & Dmitry Orlov (17))

CAR (6:09)- Seth Jarvis (15) (Jordan Staal (15) & Jordan Martinook (14))

VGK (9:52)- Shea Theodore (5) PP (Pavel Dorofeyev (9) & Jack Eichel (44))

My Thoughts

The more I watch them, the more I'm convinced I could play well on the Staal line. Mind you, I have no hockey experience and can't skate at all, but Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook make it look so easy. They are a big reason for Andrei Svechnikov getting back on the horse and tonight, reunited with Seth Jarvis, they helped Jarvis score twice. No matter who you plug in next to those two, they fit perfectly. This is not a new trio, but they'd been separated for a bit. Tonight, they scored the two more important goals of the game. Martinook assisted on both goals and Staal provided the primary helper on the game-winner while winning 70% of his draws. Add an excellent night defensively and they were easily the best line on the ice for 60 minutes.

While the captain's line was the best trio, no one on the ice was better than Pyotr Kochetkov. The Canes netminder rebounded from a subpar start against Anaheim by playing a nearly perfect game. He didn't stand a chance on either goal, succumbing to a pair of excellent screens from Vegas on each occasion. That doesn't matter because the stops he made were game-changing. The 18 skaters in front of him didn't have a great start, meaning his keeping the game scoreless through 20 minutes was massive. He stopped a penalty shot down a goal. His two saves in the first 40 seconds of the third period allowed the top line to turn around and take the lead immediately after. There was a breakaway stop on Mark Stone in the third, too. Vegas didn't let off the game after pulling within a goal. Neither did Kochetkov. He's only credited with 29 stops, but it felt like almost every one was game-saving.

We weren't privy to the line changes until line rushes during warm-ups, but I was thrilled to see the lines get a shake-up tonight. I've wanted to see Jackson Blake on the top line for a while now and I finally got my wish. Lo and behold, it paid off in the third period when Blake scored the go-ahead goal, albeit fortuitously. The rookie hit double digits, tying him for third among all rookies, while giving his team their first lead. Jarvis is a natural fit with Staal and Martinook, providing another player who is incredible on both ends. I'm humble enough not to take credit for this win because I floated the idea out there to switch things up into the universe.

Beating the Vegas Golden Knights is a great win for this team. Now, can they turn it into something greater? More importantly, can they carry this momentum with them on the road? Four of their next five games are on the road and this group has struggled mightily away from Raleigh for the last two months. Their game in Chicago combines two things that I'm concerned about (a road game against a bottom feeder) while Dallas is a tough place to play in general. It feels likely we'll see Frederik Andersen make his return in one of the next two games, so that should provide a massive boost for the team. For now, we'll enjoy this win before looking toward Monday.

#RaiseUp First Star of the Game- Jordan Martinook

I'm contradicting myself after saying no one was better than Pyotr Kochetkov tonight. However, Jordan Martinook made two of the most important plays of the game, leading to each of Seth Jarvis' goals. First, he got just enough of the puck on his backhand to find Jarvis in front of the net for the tying goal. Then, he intercepted a pass and flipped the puck out of the zone to create the 2-on-1 on the 3-1 goal. With Martinook putting in the work tonight, the Canes might've been on the wrong side of the game.

The Road Ahead- The Hurricanes will play four of their next five games on the road, beginning with a back-to-back against Chicago and Dallas on Monday and Tuesday. After a quick trip home to host Columbus on Thursday, they'll head to New York to face the Islanders next Saturday and the Rangers the following Tuesday.