Svech Breaks Tie In Third Period, Hurricanes Win Fifth Game In Homestand

By AIDAN JENSEN

[email protected]

It feels so good to be back home, especially if you’re the Carolina Hurricanes.

It seems like the Canes have been on the road all year – first with their long, early-season road trip in October, then spending the first half of December away from home.

Eight of the Canes’ 11 January games are back in Raleigh, providing them a well-deserved stretch to play in front of the Loudest House in the NHL.

Carolina is taking advantage of its long home stretch, winning five of its six home matchups so far.

The Canes’ most recent home victory came on Friday, Jan. 19, as they broke a third-period tie and beat the Detroit Red Wings by a 4-2 mark.

Carolina (25-14-5) winger Andrei Svechnikov scored his 11th goal of the year, approximately halfway through the final period, giving his team a 3-2 lead. With Detroit (23-17-15) pulling its goalie in hopes of sending the game into overtime, Canes All-Star Sebastian Aho found the empty net for his team-leading 16th goal.

Carolina actually found itself trailing early in this one, with Detroit winger Klim Jostin scoring just 2:27 into the game. Canes fan favorite Jordan Martinook tied things at one less than a minute later, tipping in a point redirect from Brent Burns.

Martin Nečas broke the second-period tie with his 10th goal of the year, as he returned from a 5-game back injury absence. J.T. Compher made it 2-2, then both teams went into the second intermission all locked up.

Carolina netminder Antti Raanta wasn’t tested much, as he faced just 12 shots. Saving 10 of 12 shots isn’t a great number, but Raanta did just enough to win.The Canes have the sixth and final game of their homestand on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. against the Minnesota Wild. Carolina will hit the road on Wednesday, Jan. 24 to play the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins, then return home the next night and host the New Jersey Devils.