The Carolina Hurricanes wrapped up a six-game homestand in fine fashion Friday night, beating the Florida Panthers 4-1 behind a hat trick from forward Jordan Martinook and 34 saves from goaltender Curtis McElhinney for their third straight win.
In addition to Martinook’s trio of tallies, the Canes (11-8-3) also got one from forward Teuvo Teravainen. The line of Marinook and forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Lucas Wallmark combined for eight points, with Wallmark assisting on all three of Martinook’s goals and Svechnikov on two of them.
“Tonight I didn’t like our start,” Brind’Amour said. “But [McElhinney] made some big saves and we got a timely goal to just get out of a period that we weren’t really into. And then after that I thought we started to play our game. … I feel like we had an iffy start but I thought the guys really battled hard the rest of the way.”
McElhinney, who has been in net for all three games of the winning streak, was strong in net again, stopping 34 of 35 Panthers shots. Everytime the Canes needed a timely save on a good chance for Florida, McElhinney was there to make it.
“Obviously pucks are hitting me,” McElhinney said. “Pretty tight game for the most part until we opened it up there with the second one. And then the third one really went a long ways too. We did a good job. It was another big game. We stayed out of the box for the most part and did a good job on the [penalty] kill.”
After getting a number of good chances, the Canes cashed in with 37.9 seconds left in the first period. Martinook grabbed a loose puck off a rebound and flicked it over sprawling Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo and into the open net.
“That’s what we do,” Martinook said. “Go out, work hard, forecheck. I think you guys have probably seen it too, the last five or six games you could really see us coming. It’s nice to finally get rewarded and get some pucks in the back of the net.”
Luongo was injured on the play, and Panthers trainers talked with him on the ice for a couple minutes before he skated off, giving way to James Reimer.
The Panthers got a golden chance to tie the game about eight minutes into the second with a clear-cut breakaway for forward Denis Malgin, but he rifled a shot off the crossbar.
McElhinney kept the Canes in front with about eight minutes to play in the second on a sharp glove save on a slot shot from Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad during a Florida power play.
“He has [made timely saves],” Brind’Amour said. “Today they had the one on the power play right at the end where it was the grade-A chance right down the middle. He made a big save for us there. To me, those are the times where you’re like ‘Uh-oh, we need a save’, and he came up big. He’s played very, very well.”
Martinook put the Canes up 2-0 seven minutes and change into the third period; he took a drop pass from Wallmark between the circles and snapped it home. Svechnikov started the play with a takeaway in the defensive zone, as the rookie continues to improve his game on both sides of the puck.
“[Svechnikov’s defensive play] is getting better,” Brind’Amour said. “I think there’s still some lapses. It’s the NHL; there’s a lot going on, a lot to pick up. He’s willing to learn. That’s why I know he’s going to get all this at some point. He’s going to be a really, really good players. He’s already getting there. From where he started, and it’s only been a couple months, he’s come a long way. He’s getting more confident and we’re getting more confident in him.”
Teravainen gave Carolina an insurance marker on the power play just over a minute after Martinook’s second tally, burying a shot from the slot to make it 3-0.
Panthers forward Troy Brouwer broke McElhinney’s shutout bid with a breakaway goal with 5:56 to play, but Florida could not find the back of the net again despite pulling Reimer for an extra skater with a shade under three minutes to play.
Martinook finished the first hat trick of his NHL career and sealed the game with an empty-net goal with two minutes left.
“I can’t even remember the last time, I guess in junior I had one,” Martinook said. “But it’s a long time ago and I could see, my Mom’s in Vegas right now so I don’t know if she would have seen it but my Dad probably hit the roof of the basement. So it’s cool. I’ll remember this one, that’s for sure.”
The Canes will have a quick turnaround from this one, hitting the road to take on the New York Islanders Saturday night.
