Ehlers has hat trick, Hurricanes score 9 in win against Panthers

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Nikolaj Ehlers had a hat trick and an assist to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 9-1 win against the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center on Friday.

It was Ehlers’ first hat trick with Carolina since signing a six-year, $51 million contract ($8.5 million average annual value) as an unrestricted free agent on July 3.

“It felt fantastic, of course,” Ehlers said. “To do that at home makes it even more special. I think we played a great game tonight. We were able to capitalize on our chances.”

Taylor Hall scored twice, and Mark Jankowski had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes (29-15-4), who had lost two in a row but are 5-1-1 in their past seven. Andrei Svechnikov and Alexander Nikishin each had a goal and an assist, and Brandon Bussi made 15 saves.

The Hurricanes went 4-for-5 on the power play.

“We were having a real nice game [early], and (Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky) was playing out of his mind,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Even when they tied it up, we just kept playing. It’s been a long time coming against this team. We just never seem to break through with goals.”

Uvis Balinskis scored for the Panthers (24-19-3), who had won two in a row. Bobrovsky made 26 saves.

“We weren’t right from the start,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “And we found our way into the penalty box for a real tough third period. We haven’t had one of those in a long time. We got beat. Thank God we play tomorrow (at the Washington Capitals).”

Ehlers put the Hurricanes up 1-0 at 18:35 of the first period. Jordan Staal held off Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling in the right corner before passing to Ehlers, who drove between the circles and scored on a snap shot.

Ehlers played for the first time on a line with Staal and Jordan Martinook, who anchor Carolina’s checking line.

“The way that they battle, the way they win pucks back, I knew I would be able to get some more space out there, which is something I’ve kind of been looking for,” Ehlers said. “That first goal was an incredible play. We want to keep building off this game.”

Balinskis one-timed a shot near the top of the right circle to tie it 1-1 at 1:19 of the second period. The defenseman signed a two-year contract with Florida earlier on Friday.

Sandis Vilmanis earned the secondary assist for his first NHL point in his third game. The goal marked the first time two Latvia-born players have earned points on the same NHL goal.

“We’re a small country, and it’s awesome that I have someone here to help me and to be there on the ice with me,” Vilmanis said.

The Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead at 13:10. Jankowski won a face-off and skated to the net, where he scored by backhanding in the rebound of Nikishin’s shot.

“We always work together, stick with each other and play physical, night to night,” Nikishin said.

Nikishin put Carolina up 3-1 with a power-play goal at 16:28, scoring on a one-timer from the right point off a pass from Sebastian Aho.

“I always tell him he’s got to shoot the puck because he’s probably got the hardest shot on our team," Svechnikov said. “On the power play, we know he’s got a good shot, and we try to make that play for him.”

Nikishin, a 24-year-old rookie defenseman, has 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 47 games this season.

“The offensive part will keep growing, but there’s not much more he needs to do there,” Brind’Amour said. "It’s such a learning curve playing defense on the other side of it, and that’s where he’s got to grow as a player. We’re seeing signs of it for sure.”

Svechnikov extended the lead to 4-1 at 4:08 of the third period with a power-play goal just as a 5-on-3 advantage expired. Seth Jarvis made a touch pass from the goal line to Svechninkov at the left hash marks for a snap shot inside the right post for his 400th NHL point.

“It took me [five] games, so at some point I had to get that point,” Svechnikov said. “‘Jarvy’ made a nice play 5-on-3. I kind of popped out from the middle.”

The Hurricanes made it 5-1 at 11:17 on a 5-on-3 power play. Ehlers took a diagonal pass from Jarvis and scored short side.

“We played direct,” Ehlers said. “We wanted to get the puck to the net. When you’re able to get pucks to the net and get rebounds back, that’s when the (penalty kill) box starts running, and that’s when the little holes open up to make the plays we were able to do tonight.

Hall extended it to 6-1 at 11:38 with another power-play goal after Logan Stankoven passed to him in front for a net-front redirection.

Ehlers completed his sixth NHL hat trick on a one-timer in the right circle off a pass from Stankoven to make it 7-1 at 13:03.

Hall scored blocker side at the top of the crease to make it 8-1 at 18:23, and Eric Robinson scored on a short breakaway at 18:35 for the 9-1 final.

NOTES: The nine goals allowed were a career high for Bobrovsky. ... The Hurricanes last scored nine goals in a 9-0 win against the New York Islanders on April 7, 2009. ... Nikishin is third in goals by a rookie defenseman in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history, behind Justin Faulk (eight in 2011-12) and Jamie McBain (seven in 2010-11). ... Earlier Friday, Balinskis signed a two-year contract with the Panthers that begins next season. Financial terms were not disclosed.