New Hurricanes Jankowski, Stankoven shine in win against Jets

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Mark Jankowski and Logan Stankoven combined for three goals in their first game for the Carolina Hurricanes, a 4-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Lenovo Center on Sunday.

Carolina acquired Jankowski, who scored twice, from the Nashville Predators for a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft before the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday.

The Hurricanes acquired Stankoven from the Dallas Stars on Friday for Mikko Rantanen. Carolina also received a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a conditional first-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2026 draft, and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

“It’s a great start, obviously,” Jankowski said. “There’s a little bit of nerves coming into a new team, but everyone has been so welcoming. It’s been an easy transition.

“I was a little shocked at first, but once it all settled it … Carolina obviously is a contending team, so it’s super exciting to be able to join a group like that in a push for the playoffs.”

Frederik Andersen made 20 saves for the Hurricanes (38-22-4), who have won four in a row. Defenseman Scott Morrow had an assist on Jankowski’s first goal for his first NHL point (fifth game).

“That’s great for them,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Anytime you come somewhere new, just being able to contribute in that fashion really is a great way to start for them. Obviously, it helped us with a win tonight, but now they can relax and go about their business.”

Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for the Jets (44-17-4), who had won two in a row.

“We gave up a couple coverage goals in our end of the rink,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “They’re a good team and they pressure. We knew that was going to be coming at us. End of the day, it just didn’t seem like we had it tonight.”

The Hurricanes made it 1-0 at 18:05 of the first period. Jankowski took Morrow’s stretch pass and cut into the right face-off circle for a snap shot over Hellebuyck’s glove.

“It was a great pass by ‘Scottie’ there," Jankowski said. "As soon as I turned and got my head up, I saw I had quite a bit of time and space. So I was trying to get in as close as possible and try to sneak one by him.”

Morrow, who was selected in the second round (No. 40) of the 2021 NHL Draft, was playing his third game of the season.

“It was pretty exciting,” Morrow said. “I had to refocus a bit after, a lot of game left. But definitely a cool moment and a great shot by ‘Janks.’”

Jankowski scored again to make it 2-0 at 5:21 of the second period. After Jack Roslovic’s centering pass deflected off Jankowski’s skate and hit the right post, the forward poked in the loose puck in the crease.

“They attack the net. They threw some pucks in there, and that was the second one, kind of a scramble,” Arniel said. "We just didn’t get to our A game fast enough.”

The Jets appeared to cut the lead at 6:12 when Cole Perfetti deflected Dylan Samberg's shot into the net, but a video review initiated by the NHL Situation Room determined that his stick was above the height of the crossbar.

Stankoven then tipped Shayne Gostisbehere’s shot with the shaft of his stick on the power play to push it to 3-0 at 2:34 of the third period.

"At this level, it's so hard to beat goalies clean off of shots. A lot of goals you've just got to go to the net," Stankoven said. "Definitely wasn't my best tonight, and it's going to take some time to get used to my linemates and the systems.”

Alex Iafallo scored from a sharp angle with the extra attacker to cut the lead to 3-1 at 17:14, but Seth Jarvis scored an empty-net goal at 17:58 to make it 4-1.

Adam Lowry scored after an errant clearing pass by Andersen at 19:08 for the 4-2 final.

NOTES: Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov was pulled from the game by the concussion spotter early in the third period after a hit from Jordan Staal. ... Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor each had his four-game point streak end. … Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. … Jankowski is the third player to score two goals in his Carolina debut, joining Morgan Geekie (March 8, 2020) and Brad Defauw (March 10, 2003).