Recap: Hurricanes Storm Past Blues

In a battle of two of the hottest clubs in the National Hockey League since the beginning of 2019, the Carolina Hurricanes bested the St. Louis Blues, 5-2.
Sebastian Aho scored the game-winning goal on an alert shorthanded play in the second period and added an assist to help lead the Hurricanes to their fourth consecutive victory.
Here are five takeaways from a fun Friday night of hockey in Raleigh.

One
The tone was set for this battle when four-time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield dropped into the Hurricanes' locker room before the game.

"I was never going to let somebody outwork me," Holyfield said in his speech to the team. "It doesn't make any difference who you are."
Those are words that no doubt resonate with this bunch, which embodies the mantra of hard work set forth by first-year head coach Rod Brind'Amour.
"That was cool," Jordan Staal said. "It got the boys going. That was a fun one, for sure."
"I've met a lot of people in my day. That was probably one of the most special just because I remember I was playing when he was the man. He was a real inspiration for me," Brind'Amour said. "Just to see that guy walk through the locker room and talk to our guys, he said exactly what I hoped he would say. Very special. That's a great moment for me."
Holyfield then made a special guest appearance in the Storm Surge, as he knocked out Jordan Martinook with one punch at center ice. A "motionless" Martinook was then dragged off the ice by his teammates at the conclusion of the team's signature celebration.

Two
With the champ in the house, the Hurricanes played like they were champs.
The Hurricanes went toe-to-toe with and ultimately bested a Blues team that was 13-1-1 in its last 15 games.
"We learned we can play a tight game, as well. They're a big, strong team that plays a tight game and doesn't give up much. We played the same style. Two good teams playing tough minutes each time you're out there," Staal said. "We found a way to get the win."
The Canes earned this one, and the team is now 20-6-1 in its last 27 games.
"It was a good battle. Both teams, you kind of knew what was coming," Brind'Amour said. "They're a great team right now firing on all cylinders, and I think we are too."
Three
The Blues opened the scoring 6:59 into the first period when Oskar Sundqvist, all alone in front of the net, redirected Vince Dunn's shot from atop the circle.
It was the first time since Feb. 12 that the Hurricanes had not scored the first goal of the game, but that didn't faze the home squad, which found the equalizer just 41 seconds later.
Off an offensive zone faceoff win from Nino Niederreiter, Brett Pesce dished the puck to Justin Williams at the top of the left circle, and he one-timed in his 18th goal of the season.

"He keeps [scoring big goals]. The momentum went back the other way, and then right away [we answer]," Brind'Amour said. "He just finds a way."
A few minutes later, the Canes snagged the lead when Justin Faulk walked the puck in from the blue line and scored on a laser of a wrist shot.

Four
Aho began adding more penalty killing responsibilities to his game in December in the absence of Staal, and it's a role in which he's flourished.
So much so that Aho now is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals with four. He is the seventh player in franchise history to record at least four shorthanded goals in one season and the first to do so since Eric Staal and Justin Williams did so in 2005-06.
And, Aho now owns more shorthanded goals than power-play goals (3) this season.
"Everything we've asked him to do, he just keeps doing it," Brind'Amour said. "You need your best players to be your best players, and he was obviously that tonight."

Aho's fourth shorty of the season put the Canes back on top by a goal, 3-2, in the back half of the second period. Blues goaltender Jake Allen misplayed a puck in the corner, and Aho raced to gather the puck, swoop around the net and wrap it around into the gaping cage past the reaching stick of Allen.
"I saw him going after it. I was pretty close when he mishandled it," Aho said. "It was a lucky bounce, but I'll take those."
Aho has recorded 21 points (5g, 16a) in his last 17 games and paces the team with 72 points (26g, 46a) on the season, the most points by a Hurricanes skater in a single season since Eric Staal totaled 76 points (33g, 43a) in 2010-11.
Five
Staal gave the Hurricanes some much-needed insurance in the third period with a beauty of a release and a top-shelf snipe. Staal has recorded a goal and four assists in three games since returning from injury.
"That's the offensive part of his game that's there," Brind'Amour said. "It's nice to have him back, for sure. It's a comfort for a coach to have that body in the lineup, and he's played great."

In addition to his goal, Staal recorded three hits, three takeaways and a 50 percent faceoff win rate in 16:04 of ice time.
"It's exciting to get back and be a part of it," Staal said. "The boys are rolling, and I just wanted to help as best I can."
Up Next
The Hurricanes head back to South Florida to take on the Panthers on Saturday night.
"There's a nice buzz in the room. Guys are feeling confident and feeling good. That's what you want this time of year," Staal said. "Everyone really understands their role and what they need to bring every night to help us win."