Jordan Staal scored again and Dustin Tokarski needed only 14 saves as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Andrei Svechnikov also posted a goal for the Hurricanes, who won on back-to-back nights.
Staal’s goal pushed his season total to nine just about 24 hours after his hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The captain also assisted on Svechnikov’s goal.
The Hurricanes have won consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 15 and 17.
The Canucks, who were shutout victims for the third time this season and the second time in their last four games, have a four-game losing streak. They were making their third stop on a five-game road trip.
Goalie Thatcher Demko, who missed recent games because of back spasms, was back in Vancouver’s net and made 18 saves.
Tokarski, appearing in his fifth game of the season, recorded his third career NHL shutout and his first since March 18, 2022. He has a 4-1-0 record with Carolina.
The Canucks’ 14 shots on goal marked their season low. They put five on net in the first period, four in the second and five in the third.
Vancouver went 0-for-3 on power plays, including two extra-man stretches in the third period.
Staal’s goal came with 5:19 to play in the first period. He has five goals across the last three games.
Svechnikov scored 1:37 into the second period, controlling the puck behind the net and then making a strong move from the corner to gain a spot for a shot through traffic. He has followed a nine-game stretch without a goal by scoring twice in a three-game span.
Center Elias Pettersson was back in the Canucks’ lineup following a six-game absence, but that didn’t translate into enough offense. He wasn’t credited with a shot on goal in nearly 20 1/2 minutes of ice time.
The Hurricanes have won six of their last seven home games.
–Field Level Media
