In a stunning display of resilience, the Carolina Hurricanes roared back in the third period, snatching victory from the Seattle Kraken and extending their winning streak to an impressive four games! This thrilling matchup, held at the Lenovo Center on January 11, 2026, saw the Hurricanes overcome a spirited Kraken team, ultimately prevailing with a final score of 3-2. But how did they pull it off? Let's dive in.
William Carrier was the hero of the hour, credited with the tie-breaking goal. The puck deflected off Carrier in the crease after Jaccob Slavin, returning from a 10-game absence due to an upper-body injury, made a determined drive to the net. Slavin's play, a give-and-go with Jordan Staal, set the stage for Carrier's game-winning moment at 13:50 of the third period. This goal was especially sweet for Slavin, as it marked his 300th NHL point!
"I try to be smart about it," Slavin commented, reflecting on his role as a defenseman who seizes offensive opportunities. "My job is to be a defenseman, but when the opportunity presents itself, I like to get up there. I just saw I’m the next open guy, and I figured I would keep going to the net, and Jordan gave it back to me. Obviously a big netfront presence by ‘Cares’ too.”
Logan Stankoven and Jordan Martinook also contributed to the Hurricanes' scoring, with Staal adding two assists. Brandon Bussi, the Hurricanes' goaltender, made 10 crucial saves. Coach Rod Brind’Amour acknowledged the strategic battle, stating, "We knew coming in how this game was going to go, just based on how they’ve been playing… We knew that was how we were going to have to score our goals.”
On the Kraken's side, Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton found the back of the net, but their efforts weren't enough to overcome the Hurricanes' late surge. The Kraken's impressive 10-game point streak (8-0-2) came to an end. Goalie Joey Daccord put up a valiant fight, making 31 saves.
Seattle's coach, Lane Lambert, recognized the hard-fought nature of the game, saying, "It was a hard-fought game… I thought when we did have some chances, we failed on them, whether it be [that we] got them blocked or missed the net. There were enough for us. We thought our goalie played well.”
The game unfolded with Stankoven giving the Hurricanes an early lead at 3:23 of the first period. K'Andre Miller intercepted a clearing attempt and passed to Stankoven, who scored past Daccord. Stankoven's goal extended his scoring streak to four games, with 10 goals for the season.
Beniers then tied the game on a breakaway at 14:13, stick-handling around Slavin. Catton later put the Kraken ahead at 5:56 of the third period. The Hurricanes then tied the game at 10:37 with Martinook scoring off a pass from Staal.
Staal, reflecting on his playmaking role, noted, "I don’t see myself as a playmaker… I’m just trying to help win games. Tonight was a couple nice passes to help us win.” His coach, Brind’Amour, praised Staal's all-around game, stating, "He’s a complete player. He’s not flashy, but look at the results… He makes people around him better.”
But here's where it gets controversial: The Hurricanes' ability to rally in the third period could be seen as a testament to their superior conditioning and strategic adjustments. Or, was it just luck?
What do you think? Did the Kraken falter under pressure, or did the Hurricanes simply execute their game plan better? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
