RALEIGH, N.C. — Pyotr Kochetkov is still perfect in Raleigh. The Carolina Hurricanes goalie turned aside 24 shots Thursday night at Lenovo Center and Carolina survived a late push from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 3-2 win.
The victory moved Kochetkov to 9-0-0, the best season-opening run by a goalie in franchise history. The old mark of 8-0-0 belonged to Freddie Andersen. Through nine starts Kochetkov carries a 1.66 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
Carolina controlled the first period and outshot Columbus 16-8 before breaking through. Jordan Martinook scored from the left circle with 4:09 left in the period after a feed from Seth Jarvis. Logan Stankoven doubled the lead 7:47 into the second, his ninth goal of the season and the team lead. He has scored five times in six home games.
Mark Jankowski struck just 16 seconds into the third period to make it 3-0. Jarvis set that one up too, finishing with two assists. Jankowski now has seven goals, all of them in his last eight games, and his goal ended up as the winner.
The third period got messy for Carolina. A string of penalties let Columbus outshoot the Canes 11-6 in the frame, and Denton Mateychuk and Kent Johnson both scored to cut the margin to one. Jet Greaves made 24 saves for the Blue Jackets.
The win lifts the Hurricanes, the defending Stanley Cup champions, to 11-2-2, the best record in the NHL. Carolina has taken 11 of its past 13 games and four of the past five.
Carolina is off Friday, returns to practice Saturday and hosts the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday afternoon in Raleigh. Columbus plays at Dallas on Saturday night.
Section: More Raleigh NC sports news
Raleigh sports business profiles
Filed under: Raleigh NC Sports News
