"You don't expect that type of performance, but we needed it, and we're going to need it moving forward," Brind'Amour said. "We've got a lot of key guys out, and everybody has to step up a little bit. Morgan did tonight for us."
Power Play
The Canes power play is clicking at another level. The Canes converted on all three of their power plays tonight and have scored on the man advantage in seven consecutive games. As of typing this sentence, the Canes now own the top-ranked power play in the league that's converting at a remarkable 32.2%.
When 5-on-5 play is often so tight, special teams can make a difference in the game, and it's doing just that for the Canes right now, even when injuries force their lineup and their power-play units to be so fluid.
"You hope it shows we have a lot of good players and depth. Obviously we need it right now," Brind'Amour said. "It's not ideal. You'd like to have your full group, but not many teams in the league do right now. That's just the way it is. … You're going to have to have depth to be successful this year."
Martin Necas
After being held off the scoresheet on Tuesday, the NHL's Third Star of the Week found the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season on the Canes' third power play of the game. Necas turned his stick in the slot to redirect a perfectly placed puck from Svechnikov, and the puck dribbled through Rinne to put the Canes up 5-0 4:38 into the third period.