"That's So Svech": 2025-26 Regular Season, Game 49: Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils

Last night was a great night for the Carolina Hurricanes, but that has to be left in the past. The Canes laid the smackdown on the Florida Panthers, scoring nine goals in a 9-1 rout at the Lenovo Center. Everyone got involved, but it was Nikolaj Ehlers who stole the show, scoring the team's second hat trick of the season. However, it's a new day, which means their attention must be turned to the New Jersey Devils. The Canes had a golden opportunity to put more distance between them and the rest of the division, especially with the Islanders and the Flyers losing in regulation this afternoon. With the same lineup playing in front of Frederik Andersen, it should be business as usual for their second trip to Newark in less than two weeks.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

None

2nd Period

CAR (13:12)- Andrei Svechnikov (14) (Sebastian Aho (31))

CAR (14:09)- Andrei Svechnikov (15) (Sebastian Aho (32) & Sean Walker (9)) 

3rd Period

NJD (4:27-PP)- Timo Meier (13) (Cody Glass (3) & Dougie Hamilton (9))

CAR (8:33)- Jackson Blake (15) (Nikolaj Ehlers (25) & K'Andre Miller (18))

CAR (15:52)- Andrei Svechnikov (16) (Sebastian Aho (33) & Seth Jarvis (15))

My Thoughts

There was no letdown for the Hurricanes tonight. It wasn't their fastest start, but they withstood an early New Jersey push before they finally got to their game. Once they did, the Devils didn't stand a chance. Frederik Andersen was incredibly sharp to start the night, preventing the team's slower start from biting them in the butt. He made a few high-danger saves, including a breakaway stop on Jack Hughes, to keep the first period scoreless. Then, he stopped Luke Glendening's short-handed breakaway in the second period to do the same. Through two periods, Andersen faced 21 shots, and he stopped all of them. The one that beat him in the third period was weird. He never got a good look at it. However, he didn't let that change his night. He stopped 29 of 30 overall. It's starting to feel like Andersen is getting back to what makes him dangerous at times.

When the Canes' offense finally started stringing good shifts together, the Devils couldn't stop them. The catalysts were Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho. Svechnikov created the first goal by pressuring and hitting Luke Hughes, forcing him to turn the puck over to Aho. They had a little space to work, and Svechnikov got it under Jacob Markstrom's glove. Just 57 seconds later, the Canes took advantage of Dougie Hamilton's hard rim. Sean Walker just the puck up for Aho, who dropped it for Svechnikov. Markstrom probably should've stopped it, but the shot trickled through. Late in the game, up 3-1, Seth Jarvis made the hat trick happen. His pressure on Brendon Dillon forced the turnover. For the third time, Aho found Svechnikov, and he made no mistakes against a surprised Markstrom. Svechnikov has two hat tricks in New Jersey over the last nine months, both coming at Markstrom's expense. Svechnikov had four goals and an assist this weekend, while Aho finished the week with seven assists in four games.

Today ended up being a very good day for the Hurricanes. Along with their 30th win of the season and another against a division opponent, the Canes got some help elsewhere. The Islanders, Flyers, and Capitals all lost in regulation. The Penguins lost in a shootout. The only other teams in the division that won, the Rangers and the Blue Jackets, are at the bottom of the division. The Canes' lead in the division is now seven over the Islanders and nine over the Penguins. It has been a weird season around the league, and the Canes are no exception. That they've built this lead with everything that has happened this season is great. Things seem to be leveling out for them, with everything clicking into place. 

First Star of the Game: Andrei Svechnikov

This was a three-horse race, and while Frederik Andersen is more than deserving, I'm going with the guy with the hat trick again. It wasn't just that he scored three times. Svechnikov helped to create his first goal with excellent pressure. It was one of four hits that he had tonight, leading the team. Tonight marks the first time since 2009 that the Hurricanes had hat tricks on back-to-back nights, coming when Ray Whitney and Eric Staal did it 17 years ago.

Next Up: The Canes have three games next week, beginning with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday afternoon in Raleigh. They'll add another one at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday and a quick trip to Ottawa on Saturday. The Canes get four days off before going for three games in four nights to close January and begin February.