RALEIGH, N.C. — For openers, it was all the Carolina Hurricanes and their fans wanted Wednesday at PNC Arena.
The Canes took a solid 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, falling behind early in the second period and then taking control of the game before a sellout crowd.
After forward Seth Jarvis tied the score 1-1, defenseman Brady Skjei scored late in the second for a 2-1 lead. Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov then scored in the third for the Canes, who will play their next five games on the road with the State Fair up and running.
Goalie Frederik Andersen got the job done in net for the Canes as both teams got their share of shots and had the fans chanting “Fred-die! Fred-die!” in the third period.
Quick takeaways from Hurricanes vs. Blue Jackets
— Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns work smoothly together. The two two D-man look like they’ve been partners for a few seasons, reading and reacting well off each other.
Burns is a physical type but Slavin had one of the hardest smacks of the game, putting a shoulder into the Blue Jackets’ Johnny Gaudreau and putting No. 13 to the ice.
— Andersen hadn’t been in a game that counted since his knee injury at Colorado last season. The Canes goalie got plenty of work and faced a number of tips and deflections.
— Prediction: Seth Jarvis had 17 goals as a rookie last season. The winger will have considerably more this season.
— Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour has always wanted Martin Necas, who has speed and skill, to be better without the puck. Necas was Wednesday in scoring his first of the season, first forcing a turnover in the Columbus zone, then converting with a low shot off a Derek Stepan pass that nicked the post.
— When Andrei Svechnikov shoots, good things often happen for Carolina.
— Signing Stepan to a contract? Good decision. And Jack Drury will play some for the Canes this season.
