Recap: Canes Blow By Blues, 7-2

ST. LOUIS, MO. -The Carolina Hurricanes scored three goals in both the second and third periods Saturday, exploding for a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues.

The Rundown:
Opening a three-game road trip it looked as if the Canes would be starting their venture behind the eight ball, as Andrei Svechnikov was found guilty of holding just 74 seconds into the contest.
While it would provide St. Louis with their first of what would be five power play chances on the night, instead it was Carolina twisting fate the other way, striking shorthanded courtesy of Martin Necas.

Just the third shorthanded tally of the year for his team, it would also be the only goal of the contest's opening 20 minutes.
In the second is when things took off though, as Seth Jarvis needed just 67 seconds to extend his team's lead to 2-0. Using his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame, Jarvis ducked back to the inside of 6-foot-6, 228-pound Colton Parayko to sneak one behind Ville Husso.
2:09 after the rookie's 11th of the year, Brett Pesce then joined the scoring party, blasting one home to give his club their first three-goal lead of the night.
As the period progressed with Carolina well in control thanks to their penalty kill, St. Louis' Alexei Toropchenko laid a hit onto Derek Stepan that eventually sent the Canes veteran forward back to the locker room. Jesperi Kotkaniemi stepped in for his teammate, dropping the gloves and winning unanimously.
The Blues would finally get one on the man advantage during the second, but 1:26 later Carolina snatched their three-goal lead right back with a power play goal of their own. Andrei Svechnikov, who would go on to finish his 22nd birthday with a pair of goals, completed a sweet passing sequence for his 24th of the season.

Despite the Canes taking a 4-1 lead into the third, St. Louis would not roll over easy though, even getting a second goal from Pavel Buchnevich to bring them back within two. However, Antti Raanta would make a game-high 14 saves in the final 20 minutes to preserve his team's advantage.
With Craig Berube pulling his netminder as early as with 5:30 to go in regulation, Carolina tacked on a pair of empty net goals via Svechnikov and Nino Niederreiter. For Niederreiter it was his 20th of the season, the sixth time in his career he's reached that mark.
Then, with Husso back in the cage, Jarvis redirected home an Ian Cole blast to put the icing on the cake and finalize the 7-2 score.
They Said It:
Rod Brind'Amour'sopening thoughts, post-game...
"It wasn't one of our better games, everything we shot just went in. It's just the law of averages. If you get enough chances, eventually they go in and tonight was clearly that. I don't know that we played great, for two periods we were fine, but the third period naturally you get up by three and you have a tendency to lay back. It wasn't one of our better periods, but Rants was good. It's a good win."
Antti Raantaon the penalty kill that went 4/5...
"It almost felt like we didn't let them get any shots on their first and second period power plays. Obviously when we're staying active and taking the lanes away it makes it a little bit easier. Guys are blocking shots a lot and it's been one of our strengths all year. We can always learn from something and do something a little bit better, but a pretty good job today. They scored one, so I can't give it an A+, but a good B-."
Martin Necastouching on Raanta's performance...
"Both goalies have been unbelievable all season. Raanta] made some huge saves today. Our goalies are always there when we need them and it's been huge."
**What's Next?** **:**
The Canes fly to Washington D.C. post-game before an off day Sunday. Monday night they'll then take on the Capitals for the fourth and final time this season.
**Bonus Notes:**
**Worth A Click:**
[Domi Ready To Roll In Raleigh
Burnside: Examining The Lead-Up To The Deadline For The Canes
Kotkaniemi Elated To Be A Cane For The Long Haul
Hurricanes March Schedule
NHL Standings