Svechnikov, Aho lift Hurricanes past Red Wings
Each has goal, assist, Martinook scores in 4th straight; Detroit's 8-game point streak ends
By
Kurt Dusterberg
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
Svechnikov put the Hurricanes ahead 3-2 at 10:46 of the third period on their first power-play opportunity. He buried a loose puck after Aho’s shot deflected off Michael Bunting's stick in front.
“That’s what we were trying to run. (Aho) shot it and we looked for a rebound when we had three down (low),” Svechnikov said. “You just try to stay focused and play your game because there is not much room when you play against Detroit.”
Jordan Martinook extended his goal streak to four games for the Hurricanes (27-13-5), who are 8-1-1 in their past 10 games. Martin Necas also had a goal and an assist, Bunting had two assists, and Antti Raanta made 10 saves.
“We stuck with what we were doing,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “They were waiting to activate and get up the ice. I thought our guys did a great job of just sticking with the game plan, and we got the two points."
Klim Kostin and J.T. Compher scored for the Red Wings (23-17-5), whose eight-game point streak ended (7-0-1). Alex Lyon made 26 saves.
“I thought we could have done a little more, but at the same time, I didn’t mind our game,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “I think we’re getting more and more comfortable with these tight games and playing a patient game.”
Kostin gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead on a breakaway at 2:27 of the first period. Raanta got a piece of Kostin’s wrist shot before the puck rolled over the goal line.
Martinook tipped in Brent Burns’ shot at the top of the crease to tie the game 1-1 at 3:14 for his fourth goal in as many games after scoring just two in the first 40 this season.
“I don’t see anything different in his game, ever,” Brind’Amour said of Martinook. “That’s what makes him a great player. He’s always around it. Maybe the law of averages is working out for him now.”
Necas took a pass from Bunting in the neutral zone, skated into the right circle and beat Lyon with a wrist shot to make it 2-1 at 16:25 of the second period. Necas missed the previous five games with an upper-body injury.
“I probably should have had a couple in the first (period), and finally it went in,” Necas said. “It felt good. I felt good physically.”
Compher’s power-play goal tied it 2-2 at 19:17. He took a pass from Dylan Larkin on a 2-on-1 rush and beat Raanta with a wrist shot.
"We probably didn’t do enough to break through offensively,” Compher said. “You’ve just got to chip the puck in and try to get it back. They played a good game tonight, and (it was) not the result we wanted.”
Aho scored an empty-net goal at 18:44 of the third for the 4-2 final.
The Red Wings had gone seven straight games without allowing more than three goals.
“I thought the boys played so hard tonight. We played the right way,” Lyon said. “These are the tasks where good teams don’t let one (loss) turn into two and two turn into three. We’ve just got to get back on the horse and give it a big effort in two days (against the Tampa Bay Lightning).”
NOTES: Larkin extended his point streak to seven games with an assist (five goals, four assists). … The Red Wings' 12 shots were their fewest this season. … Necas had six shots in 18:52 of ice time in his return. … Bunting has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in nine games against Detroit. … The Hurricanes lead the League in games allowing 20 or fewer shots (seven).
