Hurricanes defeat Flyers, extend home point streak to 13 games

RALEIGH, N.C. --Jordan Martinook scored the tiebreaking goal late in the third period for the Carolina Hurricanes, who extended their home point streak to 13 games with a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at PNC Arena on Saturday.

Martinook made it 2-1 at 16:10 when he redirected Vincent Trocheck's shot from inside the blue line.
"That was a nice one, especially that time of the game," Martinook said. "I felt like I was all over it all night. I felt like I had a lot of chances. 'Troch' is so calm and can kind of dictate the play with his patience."

Steven Lorentz and Sebastian Aho scored, and Derek Stepan scored his 500th NHL point in his 800th NHL game for the Hurricanes (41-12-5), who have not lost at home in regulation since Jan. 13, when the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated them 6-0 (12-0-1).
Frederik Andersen made 28 saves in his first start after missing three games with an upper-body injury.
Derick Brassard scored his 200th NHL goal, and Martin Jones made 33 saves for the Flyers (18-30-10), who have lost 10 of their past 13 games.
"I'm pretty angry, to be honest with you right now, to put in an effort like that," Philadelphia coach Mike Yeo said. "Unfortunately, we just didn't finish it off. I liked the effort. I liked a lot of the details in our game. I thought we gave ourselves a chance to win."
Carolina took a 1-0 lead at 8:34 of the second period when Lorentz scored on a tap-in at the left post off a pass from Stepan.
"It's funny how the game works," Stepan said. "The stars aligned. It's a special night. [Playing 800 NHL games is] something not many people get the opportunity to [do]. I've been fortunate enough to have that. It keeps adding onto the things I've been lucky enough to come across."
The 31-year-old forward was a healthy scratch in nine of the past 12 games. He has scored 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 41 games this season, his first with the Hurricanes.
"In my 30-whatever years in this league, he's probably the best I've ever seen in handling [being scratched]," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "He's been a pro every step of the way. It's not easy."

Brassard tied the game 1-1 at 16:50 off the rebound of Cam Atkinson's shot.
Aho scored an empty-net goal with 21 seconds left for the 3-1 final.
"We played probably one of the best teams in the league tonight, and they force you to play fast," Brassard said. "That was a high-paced game. I thought our guys competed really hard. I think the guys can be proud. That's what we're trying to establish here. We're showing up to play and that's the only thing that matters."
NOTES:Andersen said his injury came from a collision with Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson on March 3. … Flyers forward Scott Laughton was scratched with an upper-body injury. … Philadelphia forward Morgan Frost had one hit in 12:41 of ice time after being recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Friday. … Stepan has scored 175 goals with 325 assists with the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Ottawa Senators and Carolina. … Aho has scored 380 points (171 goals, 209 assists), passing Jeff Skinner for seventh in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history. He extended his point streak to four games (two goals, two assists). … Carolina's home point streak is the second longest in franchise history (15 games (14-0-1) from Dec. 13, 2005-Jan. 28, 2006).