Kochetkov wins 10th straight to open season, Hurricanes shut out Jets

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves to extend his season-opening winning streak to 10 games for the Carolina Hurricanes, who handed the Winnipeg Jets their ninth straight loss, 7-0 at Lenovo Center on Sunday.

Kochetkov set a franchise record for the longest winning streak, and became the third goaltender in NHL history to win each of his first 10 games of a season, joining Jack Campbell (11 games in 2020-21) and Carey Price (10 games in 2016-17). It was his second shutout this season and 13th in the NHL.

“We’re super comfortable and confident with him back there,” Carolina defenseman Sean Walker said. “We know how talented and skilled he is. He makes it easy on the defense on a nightly basis, the way he can handle the puck and break it out. He’s playing at an awesome level.”

Walker scored twice, Logan Stankoven had a goal and two assists, and Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (12-2-2), who have won four in a row and 12 of their past 14 (12-1-1). Seth Jarvis, Nikolaj Ehlers and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two assists for Carolina, which also extended its point streak to six games (5-0-1).

“We try to do it all, cover everything off,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I think our defense is a real strength obviously for our group, and it’s shown this last stretch of games. But it also helps that our goaltender has been the No. 1 reason for that. He’s been real calming and he’s made some big saves. He just allows us to keep moving on.”

The Jets (4-8-3) are 0-7-2 in their past nine games. Stuart Skinner was pulled at 9:09 of the second period after allowing five goals on 17 shots. Clay Stevenson made 13 saves in relief.

Skinner allowed five goals for the second straight start. He was also pulled in a 6-4 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday after stopping 16 of 21 shots over the first two periods.

“It’s pretty frustrating, pretty embarrassing as an organization,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “Just that second period, where we create the mistakes that we did that end up in the back of our net, is leaving our goalies out to dry. Whether that’s a stick battle, whether that’s a turnover, whether that’s knocking your own goalie over, those are things we need to do better.

“I’ve got to keep hammering home that you’ve got to defend first and foremost, you’ve got to compete first and foremost, then you have to execute first and foremost. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll get the results that happen tonight.”

Carolina scored short-handed for a 1-0 lead at 5:16 of the first period. Jarvis passed to Walker, who drove between the circles and scored on a snap shot under the crossbar.

Juuso Valimaki made it 2-0 at 1:55 of the second period when he one-timed a shot from just inside the blue line off a pass from Gostisbehere. 

“I don’t think there’s a hockey player in the world who doesn’t like scoring goals,” Valimaki said. “It starts in the first period, the way that we came out. We just kind of kept going and kept going. Just overall, very happy with the performance.”

Andrei Svechnikov passed across the crease to Aho for a backdoor tap-in while on the power play to push the lead to 3-0 just 24 seconds later at 2:19.

“It’s just not good enough,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said. “We come out (in the second period), we give up two right away, and then the wheels fall off. That’s kind of been the story of the streak. Every facet of the game hasn’t been good enough for us.”

Walker took a pass from Jarvis and scored his second goal of the game on a wrist shot from above the right face-off circle to make it 4-0 at 7:41.

“We have so many talented skill players, you’re going to get looks like that once in a while,” Walker said. “I’m just happy I was on the receiving end of a really nice play and happy I scored.”

Stankoven buried a loose puck in the slot to extend it to 5-0 at 9:09.

“When you’re not playing in the D-zone, it’s so much easier on the body,” Stankoven said. “Just mentally, being able to have the puck in the O-zone and make plays down low, kind of use your speed to your advantage.”

Mark Jankowski's power-play goal made it 6-0 at 6:53 of the third period. The forward has scored in eight of the past nine games.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi took a return pass from Eric Robinson and scored blocker side from in tight for the 7-0 final at 8:38.

NOTES: Kochetkov became the ninth different goaltender born outside North America to record a 10-game winning streak. The last to do so was Vitek Vanecek (10 games in 2022-23). ... Kochetkov tied Mike Liut for the third-most shutouts in Hartford Whalers/Hurricanes history. He now only trails Cam Ward (27) and Arturs Irbe (20). ... Ehlers has nine points (three goals, six assists) in a six-game streak. … Jackson Blake extended his point streak to six games (two goals, six assists). ... Aho registered his 186th career multipoint game and tied Eric Staal for the second-most in franchise history, behind Ron Francis (297 games). ... The Jets dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen.