LAS VEGAS — The Carolina Hurricanes achieved a significant milestone on Monday night, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 and dealing them their first home loss of the season. This victory marked the fourth consecutive game where Jordan Martinook found the net for Carolina, further solidifying his scoring streak.
In addition to Martinook’s efforts, the Hurricanes benefited from impressive performances by Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Eric Robinson, and Jordan Staal, each contributing one goal and one assist. Tyson Jost also chipped in with a goal, while Jaccob Slavin recorded two assists, helping Martin Necas extend his point streak to an impressive ten games. On the defensive end, Pyotr Kochetkov was solid in goal, recording 31 saves for Carolina.
For the Golden Knights, Jack Eichel stood out by scoring one goal and assisting another, marking his eighth point in just three games. Ivan Barbashev was responsible for their second goal, but it wasn’t enough to stave off defeat. The Hurricanes managed to chase Vegas goalie Adin Hill from the game early in the second period after he allowed four goals on 21 shots.
The Hurricanes were looking to rebound from a loss to Colorado on Saturday that ended their eight-game winning streak, and they did so emphatically. They became the first visiting team to clinch a victory at Vegas this season, breaking a franchise record set by the Golden Knights who had previously begun their home games with an 8-0 record.
Adding to the game’s narrative, Carolina’s Seth Jarvis, who has accumulated 11 points this season, was sidelined due to an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights honored former player William Carrier with a heartfelt video tribute during the first period, recognizing his first matchup against the team that selected him in the 2017 expansion draft.
Key observations from the game indicated that the Hurricanes effectively shook off any residual effects from their loss to Colorado. They finished the first period with a commanding 2-0 lead while achieving a significant 16-4 advantage in shots on goal.
On the contrary, Vegas’s defense struggled to support Hill, as the Hurricanes outshot them 21-8 during his time in the net. This included a stark 9-3 count in high-danger scoring opportunities.
A pivotal moment came when the Golden Knights had a power play early in the second period. With the score at 2-0, a turnover by Shea Theodore in his own zone opened the door for Staal to seize the puck and squelch any hopes of a comeback for the Golden Knights.
In a notable personal milestone, Robinson’s two points in the game brought his career total to 100.
Looking ahead, both teams will hit the road on Wednesday: Carolina is set to face Utah, while Vegas will take on Anaheim.