RALEIGH, N.C. — On a day when it was learned forward Andrei Svechnikov would have season-ending surgery, the last thing the Carolina Hurricanes wanted to see was another player limping off the ice.
It happened Tuesday early in the second period against the Winnipeg Jets, the Canes’ Jordan Martinook being hurt after a knee-to-knee hit from Dylan Samberg. Seconds later, the Jets’ Dylan DeMelo scored as PNC Arena erupted in boos.
The Hurricanes’ response? Brady Skjei scored. Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored. Stefan Noesen later dropped the gloves and took on Samberg, landing on top, as the boos turned to cheers.
The game ended with the Hurricanes winning, 5-3, as Kotkaniemi had two goals and an assist, Jack Drury scored in his first game since his recall from the Chicago Wolves and goalie Frederik Andersen earned his 17th victory.
The Hurricanes (44-14-8) maintained their lead over the New Jersey Devils in the Metropolitan Division.
After being shut out against the Vegas Golden Knights and then New Jersey in back-to-back games, the Canes needed a goal — from someone.
Slavin gave it to them, getting off a shot from the left circle and then past goalie David Rittich after the puck bounced off Slavin’s leg as he crashed the net.
Officially, make it Slavin, at 4:37 of the first period. For the Canes, make it the first goal since Svechnikov scored 2:09 into the Philadelphia game last week — a span of more than 182 minutes.
It was 1-0 when Martinook collided with Samberg, then 1-1 after the quick DeMelo goal.
But Skjei beat Rittich with a rising shot from the left circle, and Kotkaniemi used his long reach to score on a wraparound as the Canes moved to a 3-1 lead after two periods.
The Jets made it a 3-2 game in the third when Nikolaj Ehlers took a pass from Blake Wheeler and sniped one through Andersen. But Drury soon scored, Noesen picking up an assist as Drury got his first goal of the season in his 22nd game.
A goal by Nino Niederreiter, the former Canes forward, sliced the Canes’ lead to 4-3 with 4:22 left in regulation. Kotkaniemi’s second goal, an empty-netter in the final seconds, sealed the Canes’ win.
Samberg’s hit on Martinook, the Jets defenseman leading with his knee in open ice, was a dangerous one. And while Martinook needed help getting off the ice for treatment, he soon was back on the ice — and seemingly playing with an inner fury.
But everyone in red did their part, it seemed.
Defenseman Brent Burns, playing one of his best games of the season, made a sliding block to break up a two-on-one in the second period, sweeping his stick around to knock away the puck.
Jesper Fast saved a goal in the first period after a sharp save by Andersen. The puck was sitting near the goal line but Fast got his stick on it.
But there was no lack of adrenaline on the Canes’ part in this game. Nor did they need an amazing late-game comeback to match their effort in the first game with the Jets this season.
The Canes emptied the net and scored three times to force overtime in the Nov. 21 game in Winnipeg. The Jets won in overtime but Carolina picked up a point.
