Well, Happy New Year to the Carolina Hurricanes!
The Canes started 2024 with a bang, whooping the Rangers 6-1 in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Carolina fired on all cylinders to execute a statement win over its Metro division foe.
The Hurricanes (21-13-4) needed less than two minutes to net their first goal of the calendar year. Jack Drury drove home an excellently executed power play past Igor Shesterkin, establishing Carolina’s dominance over New York (25-10-1) early. Andrei Svechnikov doubled up the Canes’ lead with another PPG before the first intermission, setting the tone for an electric evening by the visiting team.
Svechnikov in particular stood out with his two-goal performance. The star forward skated circles around New York all night, at long last looking like his old self again. Mista Svechnikov returned to lineup back on Oct. 27 after suffering an ACL tear last March, but he finally looks 100% Svech again with tonight’s showing.
Carolina also executed well on special teams. That pair of first period power play goals marked the only such scoring of the night, but the Canes PK did Canes PK things by stifling New York on all three tries. Carolina actually outshot the Rangers 3-2 while down a man.
The Rangers actually outshot the Canes on the night, 29-27, but Pyotr Kochetkov also started 2024 off right with his 28 saves. Kooch continued his recent run of form by stifling all 12 Rangers shots in the first period, preventing New York from punching back early and allowing the Hurricanes to keep building moment throughout the opening period.
He also exhibited his trademark, eccentric style of play with a check behind the net after a failing to clear the puck.
In all seriousness, Kochetkov is 6-1-2 with a .934 save percentage and 1.86 GAA. Combined with Carolina’s stellar special teams and Svechnikov back to full strength, the Canes finally look like the preseason Stanley Cup favorites they were billed as back in early October.
The Hurricanes will hope to keep the ball rolling (puck rolling?) Friday when they travel down to Washington, D.C. to face the Capitals. Puck drops at 7 p.m. in Capital One Arena.