NHL Player News

Hall notched two assists, one on the power play, in Thursday's 7-2 rout of the Canucks.

The veteran winger had a hand in the final two goals of Logan Stankoven's natural hat trick to round out the scoring for Carolina on the night. After being held off the scoresheet in the first three games of the season, Hall has gotten going with back-to-back two-point efforts, and so far in 2026-27 he's delivered two goals on 10 shots along with eight hits, eight PIM and a blocked shot.

Blake picked up two power-play assists in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Canucks.

Both helpers came in the first period on Andrei Svechnikov tallies as the Hurricanes build a 3-0 lead before the 10-minute mark. Blake is still looking for his first goal of 2026-27, but he's got a four-game point streak going that features five assists, four on the power play, along with 12 shots on net.

Walker piled up four assists, one on the power play and one shorthanded, in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Canucks.

The veteran defenseman has helpers in every period, including on a K'Andre Miller tally just 78 seconds into the first period that got the rout rolling. Walker had been held without a point in the first four games of the season, but he's been contributing in other ways and has nine blocked shots, eight shots on net, six hits, six PIM and a minus-2 rating to begin the campaign.

Svechnikov scored two power-play goals, one the game-winner, in Thursday's 7-2 victory over the Canucks.

Both tallies came in the first period from in close, as Svechnikov gave the defending Stanley Cup champs a 3-0 lead before the 10-minute mark. The 26-year-old winger is off to a flying start to the campaign, finding the scoresheet in four straight games and racking up three goals and six points in five contests with four of those points (two goals, two assists) coming on the power play.

Stankoven scored three goals, one on the power play and one shorthanded, in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Canucks.

The 23-year-old's first career hat trick was of the natural variety, as Stankoven potted Carolina's final three goals of the night to turn a 4-1 lead into a rout. Through five games, Stankoven has four goals on 14 shots while chipping in three hits, three blocked shots, two PIM and a pllus-2 rating.

Kochetkov made 18 saves in Thursday's 7-2 rout of the Canucks.

Jake DeBrusk was all that stood between Kochetkov and a shutout, as the winger snapped home rebounds in the second and third periods. The 27-year-old netminder has won both his starts to begin the season, allowing four goals on 38 shots, and while Kochetkov remains behind Brandon Bussi on the Carolina depth chart, the duo may work in closer to a 50-50 timeshare than a clear starter/backup arrangement.

Pettersson picked up two assists in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes.

The 27-year-old center had a hand in Jake DeBrusk tallies in the second and third periods, although the Canucks were already in a 4-0 hole before they got on the board. Pettersson is turning back the clock to begin 2026-27 after a couple rough campaigns, putting together a five-game point streak that features two goals and eight points along with 21 hits, eight shots on net, six blocked shots and a plus-3 rating. The talent that allowed him to rack up 39 goals and 102 points in 80 regular-season contests back in 2022-23 may be re-awakening.

DeBrusk scored both of the Canucks' goals in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes.

The veteran winger got pucks past Pyotr Kochetkov in the second and third periods, both times jumping on rebounds and wiring them home, but Vancouver was in a 4-0 hole before DeBrusk even scored his first one. It was a strong return to the lineup after he'd missed the prior two games due to an illness, and through three contests to begin the season DeBrusk has two goals on eight shots and three points in total.

Merilainen turned aside 15 of 16 shots after replacing Kevin Lankinen to begin the third period of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes.

It's already the second time this season that Lankinen has gotten an early hook, and Merilainen has looked sharp in a low-pressure relief situation. While Lankinen has faced the tougher assignments, the difference in their numbers so far couldn't be more stark -- Merilainen has won his only start while producing a 1.62 GAA and .941 save percentage in five periods of action, while Lankinen is 1-3-0 with a hideous 7.06 GAA and .786 save percentage. The Canucks play back-to-back games this weekend on the road against the Devils and Rangers as they continue an east coast swing, and if Merilainen outplays Lankinen once again, he could make a quick push to the top of the depth chart.

Lankinen gave up six goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Leevi Merilainen to begin the third period of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes.

It's the second time in four starts to begin the season that Lankinen has gotten the hook, and the third time he's coughed up at least five goals. The 31-year-old netminder's dreadful 7.06 GAA and .786 save percentage can't even be blamed on the defense in front of him, as Merilainen has a 1.62 GAA and .941 save percentage in his start and two relief appearances. Lankinen's hold on the No. 1 job in the Vancouver crease may not last much longer if he can't regain some confidence quickly.