Puck Physics: Carolina's streak hits nine games
Mark Jankowski's third-period strike proved decisive as the Hurricanes outlasted the Blue Jackets in Raleigh.
By Harper Collins ·
The score on the board at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, did not change in the final minute of the third period, but the tension in the building shifted with every tick of the clock.
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Thursday night. Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 24 shots to improve his record to 9-0-0. That performance set a new franchise record for the longest season-opening winning streak. The defending Stanley Cup champions have now won four of their first five contests of the 2026-27 campaign.
Jordan Martinook broke the deadlock by beating Jet Greaves from the left circle with 4:09 remaining in the first period. Logan Stankoven extended the lead to 2-0 with 7:47 left in the second. Stankoven, who leads the team with nine goals, has found the net in five of his six home games this season. Seth Jarvis recorded two assists on the scoring plays.
Columbus managed to trim the deficit in the final frame. Denton Mateychuk and Kent Johnson both scored in the third period. Mark Jankowski then struck with 16 seconds into the third period, giving the Hurricanes a 3-2 cushion. That goal provided the margin of victory as Greaves faced 24 total shots.
The Blue Jackets travel to Dallas on Saturday night. The Hurricanes host the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
