Offensive Outburst Has Canes Rolling

RALEIGH, N.C. - Shut out on opening night, the Carolina Hurricanes then had just two goals through the first two games of their season.

Seven days ago, Logan Stankoven was one of the more critical voices of the team's start, calling their second showing "lethargic" and "unacceptable."

Whether the internal messaging served as a wake-up call or if it was truly just rust that needed to be shaken off, the beast that is the defending Stanley Cup Champs has been woken up since.

Getting the metaphorical engine going on Saturday in Philadelphia, the final score reflected 3-2, but it was the 40-18 shots advantage that painted a better picture of things.

Tuesday night in Montreal? A six-goal splattering.

Last night back on home ice? The Vancouver Canucks were served a touchdown and an extra point.

Totaling 13 goals in their last three games, the results have turned around, and the belief has come along with them.

“I think you're seeing every game we're getting closer and closer back to our style of play and how we wanted to be starting the year," Sean Walker reasoned. "These last couple of games have been more Hurricanes hockey, and when we're doing that, we’re really hard to play against.”

Stonkssssss...

With no shortage of positives to point to in the group's drubbing of Vancouver, the obvious highlight was Stankoven's first career hat trick.

Showcasing his skills in each phase of the game, the 23-year-old became just the 15th player in NHL history to record a natural hat trick involving an even-strength, power-play, and shorthanded goal. The feat reaches a new level of impressiveness when you consider that it was just Stankoven's fifth game on the penalty kill, helping to fill the void left by Seth Jarvis.

A well-deserved moment for a player who gives it all every time he touches the ice, the British Columbia-born forward looked every bit of the player once described as "born to be a Hurricane" by his general manager.

"Impressive. We know he's a very talented kid," Brind'Amour reviewed post-game. "His willingness to keep getting better and to try and get better, and his work ethic... I can't say enough good things about him. This is not surprising."

Now with 22 goals in his last 32 games dating back to April of last year's regular season, the three-piece was just the latest sign of a game that continues to grow.

“It feels awesome. Just preparation and work that I’ve done over the summers (shows)," Stankoven said. "Each year I try and come back and be a bit better version of myself. I think goal-scoring and finishing are something that’s not easy to do in this league, so I’m going to try and continue to work on that."

With just six goals in his first 40 games last season, #22 is well on his way to new heights with four in his first five this time around.

"Stank works his — off every night. He's a guy that deserves to get rewarded, so it was awesome," Walker added.

Making The Most Of The Man Advantage...

Just as Stankoven had a trio of tallies on Thursday, so did the Canes power play.

Before the right-handed center chimed in with the department's seventh strike of the season, Andrei Svechnikov turned in the fifth and sixth.

Seemingly just a continuation of where they left off last season, dating back to Dec. 5, 2025, Carolina's man advantage has been the best in the NHL, converting on 30.2% of their attempts.

"It's definitely confidence. We know the spots where everyone is going to be," Svechnikov reasoned. "Obviously, (there was) great preparation from the coaches this morning. We did what they asked, and we scored three or four goals."

Now scoring in four straight contests, only the Utah Mammoth (8) have produced more power play goals this season.

"Obviously there’s a pre-scout; you try and look a little bit at what they’re going to do, what their tendencies are, but I’ve always said it comes down to execution, the passes and the shots," Sebastian Aho said earlier this week. "There’s always plays that you think you’re going to run, but it’s hockey, you know? You’ve got to play hockey, and there’s a reason why you’re on the power play."

Entering Friday's play, Aho sits tied for the league lead among all skaters with his three power-play goals.

Not To Be Forgotten...

• Chipping in with another assist on Thursday, Aho paces the team with eight points (4G, 4A) in five games. He arrives in Chicago for Saturday's affair with a four-game point streak.
• Prior to Thursday's win, Walker had never had more than two assists or three points in an NHL game. Contributing four helpers, it was a career-best evening for him.
• Although yet to find twine himself, Jackson Blake has five assists in five games.
• Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who had 50 points in 55 games last season and ranked ninth among all NHL blueliners with his 0.91 points-per-game average, has four points in five games to start his third full season as a Hurricane.