Andrei Svechnikov’s empty-net goal combined with three earlier assists gave him the first four-point outing of his seven-year career in the Carolina Hurricanes’ 5-3 victory against the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.
NHL points leader Martin Necas provided a goal and an assist, while Eric Robinson, Seth Jarvis and Jack Roslovic also scored for Carolina, which snapped a season-worst three-game losing streak.
Pyotr Kochetkov made 16 saves for his first victory since Nov. 20. He had missed time with a concussion and took the loss Tuesday against Seattle.
Valeri Nichushkin scored two goals after Colorado teammate Artturi Lehkonen opened the game’s scoring. Scott Wedgewood stopped 30 shots.
Wedgewood, acquired from Nashville last Saturday, made his first start for Colorado after picking up a victory in relief earlier in the week.
The Avalanche, on the second stop of a five-game road trip, couldn’t battle all the way back after overcoming a four-goal deficit in Tuesday night’s 5-4 victory at Buffalo.
The teams combined for three goals in the final 2:11, starting when Necas increased his league-leading point total to 41 with a power-play goal that put the Hurricanes up 4-2.
Nichushkin answered 24 seconds later before Svechnikov capped his career night with his ninth goal of the season with 16 seconds to play.
Carolina won for the seventh time in 12 games in which it has allowed the first goal of a game.
The Avalanche scored 9:13 into the first period. Taking advantage of a Carolina defensive lapse, Lehkonen had a breakaway from the neutral zone and converted.
Lehkonen has scored three goals across a four-game stretch for a season total of six despite missing the first 12 games.
The Hurricanes broke through against Wedgewood with Robinson’s eighth goal at 16:05 in the first.
Carolina came up empty on two power plays in the first period, but Jarvis capitalized with a man up at 4:09 of the second to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
Roslovic followed up less than three minutes later with his 13th goal. He has continued to produce at a far higher pace than in 2023-24, when he had a total of nine goals across 59 games with Columbus and the New York Rangers.
Nichushkin scored his first goal of the game at 14:41 in the third before Necas responded with the eventual game-winner.
–Field Level Media
