The Carolina Hurricanes opened their lengthy road slate with a win over the San Jose Sharks 5-1 on Tuesday night, using a balanced attack at the SAP Center.
The Hurricanes (3-0-0) came into the game looking to stay undefeated and start the 13-day road trip on a high note, while the Sharks (0-1-2) came in still looking for their first win. After a scoreless first period, Carolina pulled away with contributions from five different goal scorers, showcasing the depth that has helped the team remain the only undefeated club in the Eastern Conference, bringing the season point total to six.
Center Logan Stankoven had a standout performance, recording two assists to help drive the Canes’ offensive surge. Centers Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis both added to their season point totals with one assist from each. On the blue line, Alexander Nikishin continued his hot start, notching an assist for the third-straight game and finishing the night with a plus-2 rating.
Defenseman Sean Walker scored the opening goal two minutes into the second period with a slapshot from just in front of the blueline. 13 minutes later, the Canes found the back of the net once again to secure what was the game-winning goal off the stick of left winger William Carrier — enough to push the Hurricanes past the Sharks.
A key aspect of the Canes’ play that helped propel them to another win: their defense allowed just 17 shots on goal throughout the entire game, and only gave up one in the second period. Goalie Brandon Bussi got a break in the third as the Canes’ defense did not allow a single shot on goal.
A rookie making his first start of his career, Bussi put out a solid performance with a .941 save percentage in the small sample size of one game. Bussi has found himself in the lineup as platoon goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov was placed on the injured reserve list after sustaining an injury in the preseason.
There is one other Canes player on the IR: Jaccob Slavin, out with a lower-body injury. He did not accompany the team on the trip out west.
The Hurricanes now head to Anaheim, looking to continue their perfect start and continue the California swing strongly. It will be the second stop on a long road trip during the NC State Fair — a stretch that tests the team’s endurance and depth.
Carolina will play the Anaheim Ducks Thursday, Oct. 16, where they will seek to stay undefeated. Puck drop is slated for 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
