Recap: Teravainen, Staal Spark Canes in Win Over Oilers

EDMONTON - Led by Teuvo Teravainen and Jordan Staal, the Carolina Hurricanes' offense broke through in a 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Teravainen scored two goals in the first period and Jordan Staal recorded a four-point night (1g, 3a) in the Canes' second win of the season. Additionally, Cam Ward made 48 saves in net.
Here are five takeaways from tonight's contest.

One
Three weeks ago in this building, Teravainen scored a pair of goals to help the Canes top the Oilers 6-2 in an exhibition match.
Tonight in his 200th NHL game, Teravainen scored his first two goals of the season in the first five minutes to give his team an early 2-0 lead.
Justin Williams hit Jaccob Slavin with a stretch pass out of the defensive zone, and the Canes were off on a 2-on-1 rush. Slavin dished to Teravainen, who settled the puck and beat Laurent Brossoit blocker side for his first goal of the season just 20 seconds into the game.
Then, on the Canes' second power play of the game, Teravainen found the puck on his stick after a Justin Faulk point shot redirected on its way to the net. Teravainen made no mistake and buried the shot.

Per Elias Sports, Teravainen's two goals in 4:53 were the fastest two to start a game for the franchise since Geoff Sanderson on Nov. 23, 1996 at Ottawa (3:42).
"We've been talking about our starts and shooting more as a group," Staal said. "We definitely brought it to the net early and quick."
The Hurricanes stretched their lead to 3-0 before the end of the period when Elias Lindholm scored his first of the season, also on the power play. Justin Faulk dished to Staal down low who then fed Lindholm across the crease; tape to tape to tape to the back of the net, just how it was drawn up.

"Coming out 3-0 in the first is always nice," Staal said.
Two
Speaking of Staal, he had himself a night. His four points included two primary assists and a shorthanded goal that ended up being the game-winner.
Early in the third period, Oscar Klefbom fumbled the puck at the point while on a power play. Staal was Jordan-on-the-spot, raced down the ice on the breakaway and buried his shot to give his team a 4-1 lead.

"I saw a bobble and just kind of went in the areas and got a stick on it," Staal said. "I was fortunate enough to get a jump on whoever was chasing me and fortunate enough to get it in."
It was Staal's fourth-career four-point night, and he recorded points in all three situations (even strength, power play and shorthanded).
Three
Ward made his season debut in net tonight, and he saw plenty of work. The final official count was 51 shots, and he stopped 48 of them for a .941 save percentage.
"I felt really good. Some nights it's not going to be the prettiest, and as a goaltender, you've just got to give your team a chance to win," Ward said. "We certainly scored enough today to win, and fortunately I was seeing the puck real well and held the fort."
"A few too many shots probably. We'd like not to have that many, but goalies get paid, too," Staal said. "He did a great job tonight. I thought there weren't too many grade-A's, but there were a couple. He definitely steered a lot of them [away]."
After the Canes built a 3-0 lead in the first period, the Oilers predictably pushed back. They pulled within one goal in the third period at 4-3.
"They made a couple good plays to score," Ward said. "I was prepared for a push because they're a very skilled hockey team and they have a lot of talent over there."
"We made it interesting again, but we'll continue to learn from those ones," Staal said. "Obviously a very dangerous team, so they're going to make a push back. They did a good job of trying to climb back into it, but Wardo ended up finishing them off at the end."
Then, Ward came up with perhaps his biggest save of the game on Patrick Maroon's breakaway opportunity.

"I was just trying to hold my ice as best I could," Ward said. "At 4-3, that's a big time in the game. I just wanted to make the big save."
Head coach Bill Peters wanted to get Ward in at least once on this road trip, and in Edmonton near his hometown, it just made sense.
"He was good. We hung him out to dry," Peters said. "He did what we thought he would do. He's a proud guy, and in his hometown he gave us a chance. Wouldn't want to try to win too many games with that recipe, but we got away with it here tonight."
"It's good to get a win in front of family and friends and move on to Calgary," Ward said. "It's a big win. It's a matter of finding ways to win when you're maybe not your best. Those go a long way over the duration of a season. We'll look to be sharper in Calgary and be prepared for another tough game there."
Four
Jaccob Slavin won't be one of the league's best-kept secrets for long, if you can even still call him one. He was downright brilliant tonight and contributed at both ends of the ice.
For most of the night, Slavin was tasked with shutting down Connor McDavid, one of the most dynamic forwards in the game today, and he did so seemingly effortlessly. At one point during the second period, McDavid attempted to split the Canes' defense, and Slavin stayed with him, put his shoulder down and bumped him off the puck.
At the other end of the ice and with the Canes' lead at just a goal, Slavin accepted a pass from Staal, dangled around goaltender Laurent Brossoit to score and cement his team's victory.

His final stat line? Dominant. A goal, an assist, two points, plus-3, a hit and five blocks, all in a heavy 27:34 of ice time.
"Slavo has been good. Really, really good. I think people are going to start to realize how good he is. As a group here we already know that," Staal said. "The guy just plays heavy minutes. He's got a great stick, great vision and great hands. He buried a big one for us."
Five
Martin Necas made his NHL debut tonight and due to the uneven nature of the last two periods and the sheer amount of special teams play, he only logged 6:54 of ice time.
"I wasn't too nervous. I just wanted to play my game, but I didn't. I played bad. I didn't feel good on the ice," he said. "We have two points, and that's the most important thing."
The 18-year-old is perhaps a bit hard on himself. His line with Sebastian Aho and Lindholm was noticeable in the first period. The team as a whole was a bit scattered for the remainder of the game.
"We started on time, but that was about it. The rest of it left a little to be desired," Peters said. "We just got sloppy. Got a little rattled with too many men on the ice penalties. Took a few penalties when we had possession of the puck and turned it over. We turned it over too much and made it real hard on ourselves and therefore gave up 50-plus shots."
Up Next
It's a short flight to Calgary, where the Hurricanes will challenge the Flames on Thursday.