While some teams have already played seven games (New Jersey Devils), the Carolina Hurricanes have only played two. This is partly because their second game of the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning was postponed due to Hurricane Milton. After waiting four days, the Hurricanes hosted the Devils and won their first game in the “third game” of the season 4-2.
The team now rolls into their first long road trip of the season with six games in 12 days. After a crazy first week of the season, here’s a look at what’s happening with the “Bunch of Jerks” from Raleigh.
Take a Bow Jackson Blake
In their home opener against the Lightning, the Hurricanes suffered their first season-opening regulation loss of the Rod Brind’Amour era. They lost 4-1, with captain Jordan Staal scoring the team’s lone goal. The power play was 0-for-4, while the penalty kill went 4-for-6, which cost the Canes. Furthermore, two empty-net goals by Nikita Kucherov – for a natural hat trick – made a close game look worse than it was.
The Canes came into their second contest looking for a much-needed win. After the Devils’ Jack Hughes made it 1-0 in the second period, Carolina took over. Seth Jarvis notched his first goal of the season with a 360-degree spin move and used former Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton as a screen to put it past Jacob Markstrom to tie the game. Shayne Gostisbehere (who returned to the team this offseason) also scored his first of the season after a great sequence by Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Martin Necas who found him in a similar spot to the Jarvis goal to make it 2-1 Hurricanes.
Related: Jackson Blake Scores First Goal as Hurricanes Defeat Devils
Jackson Blake — in what he hopes to be his first full pro season — did not have to wait long for his first-career goal. During the third period, while crashing the net, Blake tipped a shot from Dmitry Orlov, who was on the sidewall and sent the puck over Markstrom’s shoulder for a jubilant celebration from the 21-year-old. However, Blake doesn’t remember much of it.
“I didn’t even know what I was doing. I just saw Orly and I went to him,” Blake said. “Every day, I think I just get more comfortable. I’m realizing that I think I belong here in this league, and I’ve got to show it every night. I think every day is a tryout. I felt comfortable tonight, and I think I’m just going to continue to feel that.”
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